Delhi’s Atal Canteen: After Karnataka, Andhra and Tamil Nadu, Delhi To Offer Rs 5 Meals

Delhi Atal Canteen: Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced the opening of nearly a hundred Atal canteens to offer subsidised food to workers at the cost of Rs 5 per plate. Nearly a hundred Atal canteens were proposed for opening earlier.

In addition to Delhi, similar subsidised food canteens are operational in states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced the Atal Canteen during her maiden Independence Day speech on Friday, August 15. Additionally, she also announced the construction of a pucca house for every slum dweller in the national capital.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta had also announced the formation of a welfare board for the protection of rights of gig workrs. The board will ensure their wellbeing and safety from exploitation. Gupta also made important announcements related to Yamuna river cleanliness,

Gupta also added that a welfare board for gig workers will be formed to ensure their well being, adding that the government will also rejuvenate the Yamuna river, work to rationalise Delhi private school fee hike, infrastructure development, etc. Here are all the details about Atal Canteen

What is Delhi's Atal Canteen?

The opening of Atal canteen was announced by the Delhi government in the Budget session. As per the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government's announcement, nearly 100 canteens have been scheduled to open in the national capital's slum area. The canteen would offer subsidised food at a rate of Rs 5 per plate. The government has allocated around Rs 100 crore for the project and it is likely to help workers and people living below the poverty line to minimise their expense on essential needs.

Citing food as the basic requirement of people, CM Rekha Gupta announced the launch of nearly 100 Atal Canteens across the national capital on the birth centenary year of Atal Bihari Bajpayee.

Affordable Food Canteens Across Indian States

This is not the first time when a government has announced the launch of a canteen to offer subsidised food. One of the most popular initiatives by a government to offer subsidised foods is Amma canteen in Tamil Nadu. The initiative was launched by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in 2013. The concept of affordable canteen gained immense popularity. What started as a 15 outlet initiative expanded to 200 canteens within three months because of its high demand.

According to reports, the Amma canteen in Tamil Nadu offers low priced food where idlie is sold at Re 1, curd rice at Rs 3 and sambar rice at Rs 5. The food in Amma canteens is cooked by women from self-help groups. The Amma canteen model survived even after the downfall of Jayalalithaa. The model is currently carried forward by CM MK Stalin.

On a similar lines, Andhra Pradesh state government also launched canteens across the state to offer subsidised food and meals three times a day for just Rs 5 each.

After sometime, Karnataka government launched Indira canteens in Bengaluru to offer food at a subsidised price. The canteens offered breakfast options like pongal or vegetable pulao for Rs 5. Similar options are provided for lunch and dinner at the rate of Rs 10.
The concept of subsidised canteens has proven effective in multiple states by ensuring access to affordable food for all. By employing local women and offering low-cost meals, these schemes have not only addressed hunger but also empowered communities economically.