Rs 10 per meal for poor in Burdwan, West Bengal

In a remarkable initiative in West Bengal, poor people in Burdwan town are being treated to a healthy meal at only Rs 10, according to a top district official. The meal consists of rice, dal, a sabzi (curry), bhaja (fry) and chutni.

"The scheme was launched on May 1. At present it is confined to around 2,000 meals (lunch) per day for four hours (12 noon to 4 pm), but we will shortly extend the timings to make it a 12-to-14-hour service," Burdwan District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan said.

Mohan said that though the scheme, being run by the Burdwan Annapurna Foundation (BAF) with patronage from the town's business community and above all the district administration, philanthropic organisations and ordinary citizens, was basically meant for poor people, others could also have the food. The food is presently available at the old Tinkonia Bus Stand restaurant of the BAF, he said.

The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police are the ex-officio patrons and members of the Burdwan Annapurna Foundation which is looking after the scheme, Mohan said.

Already, Rs 40 lakh has been received as donation and more is expected, the DM said adding that the donations were received both in cash and kind which was audited, he said.

The BAF wished to have its own building and infrastructure to run the service, presently being run from the old Tinkonia Bus Stand.

Mohan said that already, more than 1,000 persons have taken annual and life membership of the foundation. He added that citizens would be encouraged to render voluntary service at the BAF's restaurant.