Sanjhi Rasoi scheme yet to attract poor in large numbers

Ashok Kaura

Phagwara, September 11

The Sanjhi Rasoi scheme run by the Red Cross Society and SS Jain Sabha at Palahai Gate here has failed to attract the poor in large numbers to get subsidised meals.

On an average, around 150 to 175 persons turn up at Palahai Gate to have meals on a daily basis. It is learned that the Red Cross Society is not providing any help, including financial support, to the scheme.

Sabha president Kimti Lal Jain said the SS Jain Sabha was bearing extra expenses to run the scheme.

He said though the administration had assured them of financial support and cooking gas, ghee, pulses and vegetables at subsidised rates, they were yet to get any help despite two months having passed since the inauguration of the scheme.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Phagwara, Jyoti Bala said though no funds were being received from the government, she would soon initiate steps to provide food material and cooking gas at subsidised rates.

She said several social organisations were providing financial aid for the scheme, which was a dream project of the state government.

The wife of Phagwara MLA, Anita Som Parkash, with the assistance of social organisations and some councillors, including Mayor Arun Khosla, Anurag Mankhand, Rohit Pathak and Sanjay Grover, is also running a scheme parallel to Sanjhi Rasoi at Hargobind Nagar. The initiative is getting good response from the residents.

Sapna Mankhand, a social activist, who is serving at the rasoi, said, “More than 62,500, mainly from the deprived sections, got a meal at Rs 10 per plate under the initiative in the last three months. On an average, around 750 persons got the meal on a daily basis.”

On a random visit to the rasoi on Saturday, it was found that MLA Som Parkash and his wife were serving food to the people.

Som Parkash said, “The rasoi is being run with the cooperation and financial assistance of the residents. An automatic electric roti-making machine worth Rs 4 lakh has been installed to speed up the work. Several residents sponsored a square meal on their birthdays or anniversaries. We never faced any financial crisis. We feel inner peace and satisfaction by serving food at the subsidised rate of Rs10 per plate.”