Full Thali at Rs 5: Delhi govt launches Atal Canteens serving complete meal starting today
PTC News Desk: A regular meal of dal, rice, roti, vegetables and pickle can cost anywhere from ₹500 to ₹2,000, depending on where you eat. But for people who struggle to afford daily meals, getting the same food at a very low price can make a big difference. To address this, the Delhi government has launched the Atal Canteen scheme, which provides healthy meals for just ₹5 per plate at 100 locations across the city.
The scheme was launched by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The canteens aim to ensure that poor people, daily wage workers and low-income families can eat with dignity. She said the initiative would help ensure that no one in Delhi goes to bed hungry.
Out of the 100 canteens, 45 have started operating, including those in areas like RK Puram, Jangpura, Shalimar Bagh, Greater Kailash, Rajouri Garden, Narela and Bawana. The remaining canteens will open soon.
Each canteen will serve two meals a day—lunch from 11 am to 4 pm and dinner from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm—to about 500 people daily. The government has also introduced a digital token system instead of paper coupons, and all canteens will be monitored through CCTV cameras linked to the DUSIB digital platform.
- With inputs from agencies
