At Rs10/plate, Thakur Rasoi feeds needy, hungry people

STORIES THAT INSPIRE

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 23

To ensure that nobody sleeps hungry, Thakur Rasoi (kitchen), in Kartarpur provides food to the needy for just Rs10 per plate.

Thakur Rasoi was founded by Pardeep Sharma (64), under Harinam Sankirtan Mandal and it’s been over a year since the stove in the rasoi is running. Thakur Rasoi feeds as many as 150 to 160 people on a daily basis and those who can’t pay Rs10 are offered food for free.

Neeraj Suri, president of the Harinam Sankirtan Mandan, said: “When we first started the rasoi, we managed to feed only 30-50 destitute in the initial weeks. However, gradually more and more people started coming to kill their hunger.”

“After cooking the meal, we serve it to the underprivileged people at Vishwakarma Bhavan in Kartarpur. In the past 14 months, Thakur Rasoi has gained enough popularity that people themselves come here. Unlike earlier, people now come here on their own. In the beginning, we either used to go to the locations, where destitute live or ask them to come to Vishwakarma Bhawan. The food is served every day from 6 pm to 7:45 pm. Before the Covid outbreak, food was distributed for two hours between 7 and 9 pm every day. To make sure that all Covid norms are followed, we are distributing packed food at present. People coming to take food are sanitised and social distancing is followed. Likewise, special care is also taken in the kitchen. When we founded the Thakur Rasoi, we also hired three cooks, who would work every day to cook a healthy meal,” Suri said.

While, in the starting months, all founding members bear the expenses of food — from purchasing to cooking. Now, more people have associated themselves to this noble work and over 100 people make their contribution to keep the Thakur Rasoi running.

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