Inspired by the ‘rice bucket challenge’, a campaign initiated by a journalist from Andhra Pradesh a few days ago to donate rice to the needy, the Home Guards attached to the Coimbatore District Police donated rice to the poor in rural parts of the district.
B. Balaji, Area Commander of the Home Guard, Coimbatore district, said that they were the first to initiate the drive in the State.
The drive, initiated by Manju Latha Kalanidhi, was a replica of the ‘ice bucket challenge’ that is successfully picking up momentum in the United States of America – for creating awareness and to promote research on motor neuron disease.
As many as 100 Home Guards donated a kilogram of rice each on Monday. “Another 100 made the donation on Tuesday. The remaining 132 Home Guards will donate rice in a day or two. In the next stage we want each one to motivate three others to take up the challenge’,” Mr. Balaji said.
Rice donated by the Home Guards was handed over to the people living in Marudhur hamlet, Katanjimalai at Mettupalayam and Achipatti near Cheran Colony on the Pollachi-Coimbatore Road. “We are trying to identify more deserving beneficiaries,” he said.
Each donor has been photographed and a detailed report will be sent to the Director General of Police, for Home Guards, K. Muthukaruppan and the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore District, M. Sudhakar, Mr. Balaji added.
Persons interested in contributing rice to economically weaker families in the rural pockets of Coimbatore through Home Guards can contact the following Company Commanders: Mettupalayam Unit – V. Chandran (9486255553); Thudiyalur Unit – M. Jaikumar (9092908425 and 9842921865) and Pollachi Unit – V. Sivakumar (9047143413).
