The Hindu : New Delhi News : Free lunch scheme for the poor launched

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Thursday, Apr 17, 2008
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Free lunch scheme for the poor launched

Staff Reporter

‘Aap Ki Rasoi’ aims at eliminating hunger from the streets of Delhi

Photo: Sandeep Saxena

New initiative: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit offering a meal to a child during the launch of ‘Aap Ki Rasoi’, a campaign towards a hunger-free Delhi, in collaboration with Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir on Monday.

NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at eliminating hunger from the streets of Delhi by providing a free full meal daily to a large number of poor, homeless, destitute persons and street children, the Delhi Government on Wednesday launched the “Aap Ki Rasoi” scheme under the Bhagidari programme at a function organised at the Nizamuddin night shelter here. Hundreds of poor people were provided freshly cooked nutritious food by the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir.

Corporate houses show interest

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit described the campaign as a major step towards making Delhi a “hunger-free State”. The Government, she said, would facilitate non-government organisations and business houses distributing cooked food at various locations across the Capital. While around a dozen of them, including Hero Honda and the Taj Group, have already agreed to associate themselves with the programme, many more have evinced interest in the campaign.

One full meal

The Chief Minister said the programme would ensure that all poor persons would get at least one full meal. The food would be provided at the centres between 12 noon and 3 p.m. As part of the initiative, drinking water would also be made available and the beneficiaries would be urged to maintain cleanliness by using the waste bins for disposal of paper plates.

Night shelters

The Delhi Government under the initiative would give permission to utilise night shelters for distribution of hygienically cooked food brought in by the donors. It is also considering making available a large kitchen to the donors at a later stage for cooking food.

Social Welfare Minister Yoganand Shastri expressed confidence that the campaign would also go a long way in overcoming problems concerned with malnutrition.

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