On Friday, ex-Mayor Alok Sharma joined food packet distribution drive to facilitate homeless and daily wage labourers during lockdown. He also appealed people to maintain social distancing. There were reports of people flocking to collect food packets, especially in Lalghati area, and accordingly Sharma appealed to maintain distance while collecting food packets.

He also appealed groceries shops in different areas to ensure compliance of social distancing.

Social distancing is very important to avoid spread of COVID-19. Officials said that the lockdown has been successful in breaking the chain of transmission as is ‘evident from the stability in the rate of increase in numbers’. However, Alok Sharma said that everyone will have to stick to lockdown guidelines issued by the Government to ensure that together they come out of the lockdown victorious.

He also pitched for developing a new crisis management protocol to deal with the health crisis to prevent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and protect people. Food distribution has started from day one of lock down and now strategy is also being chalked out to ensure food supplies to all the needy ones. Areas have been identified to streamline food packet distribution by Bhopal Municipal Corporation.