3,000 packets daily amid high demand

CHANDIGARH: In a little less than three-and-a-half months since its launch, the Annapurna Akshaypatra, a project initiated by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Chandigarh, to provide food for all at reasonable rates (Rs 10 per packet), is now serving nutritious and hygienic lunch and dinner meals to 3,000 people daily at 12 locations across the city.

Charu Chhibber

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 15

In a little less than three-and-a-half months since its launch, the Annapurna Akshaypatra, a project initiated by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Chandigarh, to provide food for all at reasonable rates (Rs 10 per packet), is now serving nutritious and hygienic lunch and dinner meals to 3,000 people daily at 12 locations across the city. The number of food packets distributed in the city will soon be increased to 5,000 and new additions to the menu are also on the cards.

At present, lunch is being provided to patients and their attendants at the PGI and the GMSH-16. Officials of the IRCS said looking at the heavy demand and great response to the scheme, lunch would soon be provided at all locations. The scheme was launched on January 2 with 665 packets being sold at five locations at a rate of Rs 10 per dinner meal. On completion of two months of the scheme on March 2, the number of food packets was increased to 2,000.

Significantly, the scheme, a brainchild of city DC Ajit Balaji Joshi, was launched with the aim of satiating hunger of people from economically weaker sections. The IRCS has initiated the project with the active support of the departments of Health, Labour and Food and Supplies Department; Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited; Indian Oil Corporation Limited; Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited; Sewa Bharti, Chandigarh; Panchkula Gaushala Trust, and the Market Committee, Chandigarh.

Nutritious needs of customers taken care of

Following a meeting between officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the Indian Red Cross Society last month, it was decided that keeping in view the nutrition demands of the clientele, 1 kg of fortified wheat flour would be added to regular flour.