New Delhi: Delhiites will soon have access to hot, cooked meals for just ₹5 at Atal Canteens. This initiative aims to provide affordable food to the economically weaker sections.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the plan in the Delhi Budget earlier this week. The government will set up 100 canteens in slum clusters, with ₹100 crore allocated for the project. Delhi has around 700 slums, making this a crucial step toward food security.
“Food is a basic necessity. To support the poor, we are launching 100 Atal Canteens in honor of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth centenary,” Gupta said.
The initiative is inspired by Tamil Nadu’s Amma Canteens, launched in 2013 by J Jayalalithaa. These canteens offer low-cost meals and have expanded rapidly due to their popularity.
Similar food schemes exist in other states. Haryana has Atal Kisan Mazdoor Canteens, Andhra Pradesh has Anna Canteens, and Karnataka runs Indira Canteens.
The Delhi government hopes this move will help slum dwellers and daily wage workers by providing nutritious food at minimal cost.
