In a first, MHA to give meals to Central Police forces during transit for election deployment
TNN Bureau. Updated: 3/18/2019 4:18:53 PM
National
New Delhi, Mar 18 : For the first time, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will provide meals to the personnel of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) during transit for election duties in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier, the CAPF personnel had to procure their meals on their own which largely depended on the availability of food at stations, pantry cars or by other means.
In a letter written to Railways catering division IRCTC on March 11, the Union Home Ministry has directed to arrange meals for poll duty Central Police personnel at a short notice and also to select private vendors in case the IRCTC facilities are not available on the routes.
In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinne, the IRCTC will also provide a toilet kit comprising soap, shampoo sachet, hair oil sachet, toothpaste, toothbrush and comb.
The menu for meals is also decided by the Home Ministry and taste of the moving troops has been taken care of along with nutritional requirement and hygiene.
The Government has directed Railways to run 260 Election Special Trains and Splinter Coaches with each train carrying 1,000 personnel. Splinter Coaches are additional coaches attached to a regular train on a route to accommodate additional passengers.
The Centre has placed 2.70 lakh paramilitary personnel at the disposal of the Election Commission for the free and fair conduct of the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections which begin on April 11.