This charitable endeavour was performed not by an NGO or social organisation, but by a network of over 3,000 police officers who pay money and make deliberate efforts to bring food to the poor on a daily basis. The effort began in Madhuban in June 2017 with the goal of assisting 40 street residents; however, the movement's benefits have now reached thousands across Karnal, Rewari, Gurugram, Kurukshetra, and Faridabad. Roti Bank is the name for this concept.
Construction workers and their children were starving and struggling for food when Shrikant Jadhav, the Additional Director General of Police with the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau, noticed them. Shrikant claims he was moved by their plight and decided to bring a few food packages. “I generally provide chocolates, snacks, and fruits to children at a nearby building site. I decided to help as a tiny gesture one day in 2017 and took 40 packages from home. However, within minutes, a crowd of roughly 100 children had assembled. I realised there were a lot more folks that needed help.” He recalls
He claims he raised the number of food packages and enlisted the help of his coworkers and subordinates. “Every official brought 2-4 additional Rotis as requested, and the vegetable and dal were cooked in the police canteen kitchen using monies donated by everyone,” he says. Shrikant adds that when their efforts got more constant, they established a bank account into which they could deposit money. These funds were used to cook and distribute the meals. “As a result, the Roti Bank was established,” he continues.
When it became a success, word of mouth among officials grew, and more people began to contribute to the cause. The popularity of the initiative expanded to neighbouring regions, and more officers from the IPS and IAS cadres quickly joined the effort. Each cadre has a coordinator and a bank account. They also have a separate kitchen where they can cook food and a distribution system.
Apart from assisting the impoverished, Shrikant claims that the project has evolved in a variety of ways. “It has aided in bridging the gap between the police and the general public. Empathetic activities aid in the development of citizen trust. Furthermore, it allows the police to be more responsive to the public,” he adds.
He adds, "It's a win-win situation for everyone."
Shrikant and his colleagues deliver meals to the Vatsalya Vatika Ashram every week, according to Hari Om Das, director of the Vatsalya Vatika Ashram. “The youngsters at the school come from slum areas and study from primary to post-graduate levels. The endeavour also aids in bridging the trust gap between the police and the underprivileged,” he says.
According to Shrikant, such efforts would be implemented in all of the state's districts. “It would be a remarkable achievement if such Roti Banks were to spring up all over the country,” he says.