It is tough to find a cheap meal at a low price in Delhi. The workers have to choose between a full stomach and saving a few rupees for their families back home. Delhi makes this difficult choice easier by introducing a massive food project.
Honouring a legacy on a special day
Delhi launches these canteens today to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The government is calling it the 'Atal Aahar Yojana to celebrate his memory and his focus on the common man. This turns this special day into a day of service for the people who build the city. These subsidised eateries were few, and today they are opening in 100 locations all over Delhi. The reach of affordable food has grown significantly across the capital.
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The location and menu of the canteens
These canteens will offer fresh meals at just rupees five. There will be heavy and filling North Indian staples like Rajma-chawal or Puri-sabzi in the menu. These meals are designed to give labourers the energy they need to get through a long day of physical work. The canteens are smartly placed near industrial hubs, bus terminals and large construction sites. This will make the food highly accessible to the workers and will save them time and travel money. By charging five rupees, the program allows people to buy their food with their own hard-earned money. There is a lot of pride in paying for your own plate rather than standing in a charity line. It treats the workers as customers who deserve quality and respect.
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With the opening of these canteens, Delhi will be taking a huge step towards making sure no one goes to bed hungry. This model can serve as a guide for other big cities if this model succeeds. The anxiety related to food for the daily wage labourers will soon be gone as the shutters go up on the 100 canteens today.
