Mumbai: We may go hungry without LPG cylinder, say senior citizens

MUMBAI: One of them uses a walker to move around the house, while the other is barely mobile. The two sisters, aged 85 and 92, who reside in Babulnath in South Mumbai, were left distraught and panic-stricken when they got a call from an LPG dealer over the weekend saying: " Dukan pe aa jao, cylinder yahin milega.. delivery ke liye koi boy nahi hai (Come to the outlet for LPG delivery, there is no delivery boy now)."
The Coronavirus lockdown has seen several gas dealers shrug off responsibility saying they are helpless and cannot deliver LPG cylinders even to senior citizens staying alone as delivery boys have not been reporting to work in the absence of transport.
There are long queues at gas outlets and people have to lug home 14-kg cylinders risking sprains, backaches and slip disc.
"This is ridiculous. The government should step in and at least arrange for deliveries to those who are elderly, infirm and disabled. Where do they go?" said Mehernosh Fitter, a Dadar Parsi colony resident, who said at Cusrow Baug in Colaba, Khareghat Colony on Hughes Road, Tata Colony in Tardeo and several other Parsi colonies, there were a large number of elderly citizens -- many above the age of 80 - who were either living alone or with a spouse or sibling. "With no delivery of LPG cylinders, they are all inconvenienced. Many don't have vehicles to go and get the cylinder. Most importantly, senior citizens have been advised by the government not to step out of home due to the coronavirus threat," he pointed out.
Kandivali residents, Ajay Nair and his wife Sujata, are both in their 70s and have arthritis and knee problems. "We are afraid that once the second cylinder gets over and if the lockdown continues, we will be left with nothing. We will not be able to cook and may have to go hungry," they said. Many elderly people don't know how to unlock and fix the cylinder valve and depend entirely on the delivery boys.
TOI learnt on Monday evening that the state government has asked LPG suppliers to service senior citizens and households with special needs on priority. A senior official from the food and civil supplies department said there is ample LPG stock in the state. In most places, operations are smooth, but the issue is in areas seeing panic booking. "There are people booking a second LPG cylinder despite having a full one at home," the official said.
"LPG is part of essential commodities and it is obligatory on the part of gas agencies to deliver, especially to the elderly and disabled. Also, volunteers from social organisations or philanthropic bodies should be roped in, not just for food distribution to migrants, but also to deliver cylinders to the elderly and disabled staying alone. Another solution could be giving ID cards to all delivery boys and enabling their travel in BEST/MSRTC buses," said civic activist Gaurang Vora.