Delhi gets 25 new Atal Canteens

Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inaugurated 25 new Atal Canteens in the national capital, taking the total number of such subsidised meal centres to 71.

The canteens were launched digitally from Nursery Basti in Krishna Nagar. Following the inauguration, the L-G, Chief Minister and other dignitaries sat with members of the public and shared a meal at the canteen.

Addressing the gathering, Saxena described the launch as a significant milestone, stating that with 71 canteens now operational across Delhi, clean and nutritious meals are being made available at affordable prices to those in need. He said the scheme has proved particularly beneficial for economically weaker sections, migrant workers, students, rickshaw pullers, sanitation workers, domestic helpers and daily-wage labourers.

The L-G noted that the initiative was launched on December 25 last year on the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said the Delhi Government was providing a subsidy of Rs 25 per meal to ensure food is served with dignity, while regular monitoring systems have been put in place to maintain hygiene, quality and transparency.

Chief Minister Gupta said the Atal Canteens are dedicated to hardworking citizens who support their families through daily labour. “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that they have access to affordable, dignified and nutritious food,” she said, adding that the scheme instils a sense of security and inclusion among the poor and working classes.

She emphasised that wholesome meal comprising dal, rice, roti and vegetables was being served at just Rs 5. A digital token system, CCTV monitoring and computerised billing had been introduced to ensure transparency. Meals are served in steel plates to maintain hygiene standards.

The Chief Minister also proposed the creation of an Atal Canteen corpus fund to allow individuals and organisations to sponsor meals on special occasions.

Gupta said the government aims to expand the number of Atal Canteens to 100 in the near future so that a larger section of society can benefit. She said as the government completes one year in office on February 20, several key decisions have been taken for the welfare of the poor and labourers, with the expansion of the canteen network being a major step towards an inclusive and developed Delhi.

Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood said since the launch of the scheme on December 25, over 14.58 lakh people have availed of meals at Rs 5 within 57 days. He said 46 canteens were operational during the first 56 days, serving nearly 26,000 people daily on an average, with each canteen catering to more than 31,000 individuals during this period.

He said the scheme, operated by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), is aimed at uplifting the most vulnerable sections of society and ensuring that no one sleeps hungry.

Social Welfare Minister Ravindra Indraj Singh also inaugurated an Atal Canteen at A-Block, Jahangirpuri, Adarsh Nagar, where he personally served meals to elderly citizens and dined with them. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva inaugurated another canteen in the Kasturba Nagar Assembly.