In a significant move to combat hunger and ensure food security, the Delhi government on Thursday launched the Atal Canteen scheme, offering highly subsidized, nutritious meals to citizens for just five rupees. The launch coincided with the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Scheme Inauguration and Political Leadership
The initiative was formally inaugurated at a canteen located near Apna Bazaar in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar. The event was attended by Union Minister Manohar Lal, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood. In a symbolic gesture promoting public transport, Chief Minister Gupta travelled via the Delhi Metro from Delhi Gate to Lajpat Nagar to attend the event, interacting with commuters along the way.
Manohar Lal emphasized that the scheme represents more than just a welfare program. "It is a commitment to providing dignified support to citizens," he stated, adding that the nominal price ensures no one in the capital goes hungry. Chief Minister Gupta linked the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a society with universal access to food.
Operational Details and Nutritional Value
A total of 45 canteens became operational across Delhi on the launch day. The government has set an ambitious target of establishing 100 such canteens, with the remaining 55 slated to open within the next 15 to 20 days. Each outlet will serve lunch from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM and dinner from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
The standard meal plate is designed to be both substantial and healthy. Weighing approximately 600 grams, it includes:
- Roti (Indian bread)
- Dal or pulses
- Seasonal vegetables
- Rice
- Pickle
This combination provides an estimated 700 to 800 calories and 20 to 25 grams of protein per meal. The Rs 5 charge is intended to maintain the dignity of beneficiaries and help minimize food wastage.
Infrastructure, Oversight, and Budget
The Delhi government has appointed 11 agencies through a transparent tendering process to manage the canteens. These facilities are equipped with modern infrastructure to ensure efficiency and hygiene:
- Modern kitchens with LPG-based cooking systems
- Industrial RO water purification plants
- Digital token systems for orderly service
- Comprehensive CCTV surveillance
- Plans for regular audits
To guarantee food safety and quality, raw materials and finished meals will undergo regular testing by labs accredited by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The scheme is backed by a substantial budget of Rs 104.24 crore. Each canteen is projected to serve around 1,000 meals daily, cumulatively ensuring affordable nutrition for over one lakh Delhi residents every day.
Political Reactions and Criticism
While the launch was celebrated by the ruling dispensation, it also drew critical commentary from the opposition. Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav stated that the scheme underscores a deeper crisis. He argued that the urban poor need respectable jobs and assured income more than subsidized meals.
"With an employment guarantee of at least Rs 500 per day, workers can avoid bonded labour and prevent their families from starvation. A five-rupee plate announced on Vajpayee's birth anniversary exposes a bitter truth," Yadav remarked, highlighting issues of rising unemployment and inflation.
The Atal Canteen scheme stands as a major public welfare intervention, aiming to bridge the nutritional gap for Delhi's economically vulnerable sections. Its successful implementation and scale-up in the coming weeks will be closely watched.
