New Delhi, Dec 25 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday launched the ‘Atal Canteen’ scheme in several parts of the national Capital, marking a key initiative by the Delhi government to provide affordable and dignified meals to the poor on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Under the scheme, nutritious meals will be provided at a nominal cost of Rs 5. Gupta said the actual cost of one meal plate would be around Rs 30, of which the government would bear Rs 25. “The objective is not charity, but dignity. People should get good food with self-respect,” she said.
Under the Atal Canteen scheme, each meal plate includes 100 grams of rice, 100 grams of seasonal dal and 100 grams of seasonal vegetables, along with six rotis, ensuring a wholesome and balanced meal for beneficiaries.
Symbolically, the first Rs 5 meal coupon at the Nehru Nagar canteen was issued by union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while the second was issued by the Chief Minister. Responding to a question about the food being served, Gupta described it as simple, ‘satvik’ and wholesome, in line with Vajpayee’s values.
Speaking at the inauguration of an Atal Canteen at Nehru Nagar, attended by union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the Chief Minister recalled Vajpayee’s legacy and said that his centenary year inspired the government to introduce a welfare measure rooted in compassion and service.
She announced that 45 Atal Canteens were being inaugurated in the first phase out of a planned total of 100 across the city. The remaining 55 canteens will be opened soon. The Chief Minister noted that work on some locations had been delayed due to restrictions under the GRAP anti-pollution measures.
Delhi CM emphasized that the focus is not on how much the government could have subsidized the meal, but on ensuring that no one’s self-respect is compromised. By paying Rs. 5 for a plate, beneficiaries can enjoy their food with dignity, she said, adding that even a single grain will not go waste when meals are served with respect.
“Vajpayee ji always believed that no one should go to bed hungry. This initiative reflects that spirit,” she added.
The launch was attended by Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood, MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah and local residents. The Atal Canteens are expected to cater primarily to workers, labourers, rickshaw pullers, sanitation staff and other daily wage earners, with each canteen capable of serving meals to around 1,000 people during lunch and dinner hours.
Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the Atal Canteen in Jangpura, said the initiative reflected a new model of governance in Delhi inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, anchored in honesty, integrity and unconditional public service.
He described December 25 as a day of profound significance, marking the birth centenary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and said the Atal Canteen was a fitting tribute to a leader who defined good governance as an expression of compassion and sensitivity rather than power.
Sood said Delhi was now moving from the idea of being merely a Smart City to becoming a Sensitive City, where the poor are provided nutritious meals at Rs 5 with dignity and self-respect, not charity.
