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On ‘feed the hungry’ mission

Every good act aimed at serving the humanity is charity.

On ‘feed the hungry’ mission

Davinder Singh and his family members give food to needy people in Faridabad. Photo: Rakesh Kashyap



Bijendra Ahlawat

Every good act aimed at serving the humanity is charity. This holds true for some individuals and social organisations in Faridabad, which have taken up the cause of feeding hungry people. They operate common kitchens to offer meals to the poor and the needy either at a nominal rate or free of cost. 

Davinder Singh (34), a resident of Sector 28 in Faridabad, is one of those who thinks that providing food to hungry and poor people is a noble cause. His group consists of his family members and friends, who prepare food to be offered to people at public places every Saturday. The group called Aapki Rasoi charges Rs 5 per plate, which consists of ‘chapatis’, ‘dal’, ‘subzi’and ‘chawal’. “The food is carried in personal vehicles that are parked either outside a Metro station or the bus stand where a large number of commuters or people are present,” says Davinder, who had won Rs 6.40 lakh in Kaun Banega Crorepati recently. “I have invested even the money that I had won in the KBC in this noble work,” he says. 

Davinder, who works in the private sector, says he is trying to get his organisation registered. The news of the death of two children due to hunger in Delhi early this year had shocked him. He took up the cause in May this year and now wants to serve more needy people. He says to fight hunger in society is the need of the hour, as there are many who cannot even afford food every day. The meal is served in disposable plates and the cost is shared by the members of the group. The food is prepared in the houses of the members and Rs 5 per plate is charged to make people feel that they are not having leftovers, he says.

The Faridabad Navchetna Trust is another organisation which has taken a lead in this generous cause. It started a kitchen on the premises of the Civil Hospital in Faridabad, which is visited by more than 2,000 patients and their attendants every day. The food is being provided for Rs 10 only. “Over 1,000 persons have food at the Civil Hospital every day,” says Vipul Goel, Faridabad MLA, who is the patron of the Trust. He adds while the service in the Faridabad Civil Hospital was started in April 2017, the Trust started another kitchen at the Civil Hospital at Palwal in April this year.

Amarjeet Singh, a resident of Sector 15 A, is also passionate about serving food to hungry and poor people. “A phone call from my son, who is residing abroad, asking me to start such a service for the poor made me do it,” says Amarjeet, who started the service in June this year. He and his wife and son provide homemade food for Rs 5 per plate to the needy people near the busy Neelam Chowk between 10 am and 2 pm every Tuesday. They also provide food to those who have no money to pay. The meal consisting of ‘Dal-chawal’, ‘Rajma-chawal’ and ‘Kadi-chawal’ is adequate for around 1,000 persons at a time. 

The Satyagrahi Sewa Samiti, an NGO headed by Vikram Pandey, also serves food free of cost to poor labourers and migrants under the banner of Roti Bank every Sunday. “We offer to recognise with certificates or mementoes the help and support of anyone for the initiative,” says AK Gaur, a member of Roti Bank that was set up in 2016. Members donate ‘chappatis’ and ‘sabzi’ regularly, he adds. 

Free food is also served at the Sector 15 gurdwara to over 200 persons every day. Amarjeet Singh, secretary of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha, says that lunch and dinner are being provided at the gurdwara every Sunday for the past five years. The Sabha focuses on nutrition and hygiene and Rs 3 lakh is spent on ‘langar’ every month, he adds.

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