The Khardah Sanskriti Mancha, a social organisation in North 24-Parganas, has been distributing food packets among the poor since the lockdown came into force.

“Each packet contains 5kg rice, 2kg potato and 500gms of pulses. We have distributed over 3,000 packets and will continue doing so over the lockdown period,” said Kajal Sinha, the president of the organisation.

“We think if people are assured of their basic necessities, they are more likely to maintain social-distancing norms, which is a must to contain the spread of the coronavirus,” he said.

Sinha and his team are also arranging for lunch for over 500 slum-dwellers.

“We are also helping the elders so that they are not inconvenienced because of the lockdown,” added Sinha, a Trinamul general secretary in North 24-Parganas.