Chandigarh, April 3 : When their husbands are in the field to fight coronavirus, the better halves are ensuring free food distribution to cater to the poor in Punjab's Ropar district. Also, the wives of policemen are making masks at home to handle the pandemic. Over 33,000 meals of dry ration along with 800 masks have been prepared by family members of police officials in last one week at their homes and community centres, said Senior Superintendent of Police of Ropar, Swapan Sharma. The ration packets have been distributed in slum areas, while the masks at every check point by mobile patrolling teams, he said. "Together we stand stronger is the message that families of the Ropar policemen are out to convey," Sharma said, adding each family has contributed Rs 500 towards the fight against deadly virus. Women and children have taken upon themselves to make masks and pack ration packets. With policemen on duty for 14-16 hours a day since the lockdown that came into effect on March 23, their families are showing all their support. Out of 100 families that stay in police quarters, about 30 of them have come forward to help. By stitching masks at home, they are doing their bit to ensure safety and health. Spouses, children and even parents are enthusiastically participating to ease the burden on the policemen by making packs out of ration donated by the NGOs and the public, he said. "We couldn't think of anything better than making masks to keep our men in khaki safe in these tough times," said Sukhwinder Kaur, 48, wife of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jagtar Singh. Shruti, 16, daughter of ASI Chandermohan with the help of her elder and younger sisters is making use of her sewing skills in making masks. ASI Vinod Kumar's wife Praveen Kaur has enlisted the help of her three children to make ration packs for the less fortunate. "Lending a helping hand even if little means huge in this time of uncertainty. Also, our children imbibe value of standing with everyone in difficult times with doing as much as they can," she said. Lovepreet Kaur, daughter of ASI Jagir Singh, added: "Making ration packs may not mean much in ordinary times but at moments like these when policemen are overworked each little help counts. I am glad that we are taking off a little of the burden off the shoulders of forces by making use of the time." /IANS