The government's clarification came a day after itfaced flak from opposition parties including the DMK, afterthe former had even warned of legal action against thosedeemed "violators" of the prohibitory orders in force toimplement the lockdown.
"It is being clarified the government only insisted thatvolunteers and other sevice organisations should work togetherwith the district administration and ensure (food) reaches theneedy with due precaution," an official relese here said.
It had not issued any ban, the government added.
It said leaders including DMK President M K Stalin hadclaimed the government had banned the volunteers from helpingthe poor, and claimed this was "far from truth."
Incidentally, one of the 12 committees constituted byChief Minister K Palaniswami as part of the state's fightagainst COVID-19, all headed by IAS officials, was dealingwith such volunteers and service organisations and the workwas being coordinated properly.
Over 2,500 institutions and 58,000 volunteers hadregistered with the government and working with the respectivedistrict administrations to provide relief to the aged,workers from Tamil Nadu as well as other states and thedifferently-abled, it said.
They were duly following social distancing and otherrequired health precautions while providing assistance to theneedy, the release added.
"The government's intention is not to prevent help.Its stand is that considering the present situation, reliefassistance should be provided properly and safely," it said.
On Sunday also the government urged such volunteersand others should work with the district administration, itsaid.
Such restrictions on public movement had been imposedonly with the aim to prevent the spread of coronavirus andthat is why it was being insisted that the contributions couldbe given to the district collector or respective civic bodyofficials, it added.
On Sunday, the state government had said individualsand organisations cannot distribute food to the needy in thestreets, saying it was a violation of the prohibitory ordersclamped to enforce the ongoing lockdown, a move opposed by theopposition DMK and Makkal Needhi Maiam.
It said the very purpose of clamping Section 144 ofCr.Pc., which bars the assembly of more than five persons, wasto avoid crowding and ultimately prevent the spread of virus.
DMK President M K Stalin had slammed the move, sayingwhoever had issued the order was "heartless" and wondered whysomeone wanting to help people should be dissuaded from doingso.
MNM chief Kamal Haasan had also flayed it. SA