Activist Anna Hazare’s fast turned into a boon for the neighbouring slum-dwellers in Bandra who waited in serpentine queues for lunch for two days.
Activist Anna Hazare’s fast turned into a boon for the neighbouring slum-dwellers in Bandra who waited in serpentine queues for lunch for two days.
Locals sources and witnesses stated that residents of slums of Bharat Nagar, Behrampada, Kherwadi and the neighbouring areas came in hordes every afternoon and evening to treat themselves of the meals and snacks that were being served.
Jan Seva Sansthan, a charitable trust from Haryana, arranged for the food at the MMRDA ground on Tuesday and Wednesday where Anna led a protest in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Though the police claimed that not more than 6,000 supporters gathered on an average on each day, Team Anna claimed the figure shot over 15,000.
Subuhi Ansari, a woman in her 30s, who lives in the Bharat Nagar slums, said: “I heard food was being distributed at the rally, so I came here with my neighbours.”
A 12-year-old boy from Kherwadi slums who identified himself as Rakesh Nath said, “I have come here with my friends to have lunch. The food is good here. We will go out after this.” A witness explained that the slum-dwellers would leave after their meals only to be expected for the next one.
Swami Param Chaitanya, president, Jan Seva Sansthan, agreed that slum-dwellers from the vicinity came just to eat.
“We have to give food to everyone who comes to the rally”, he said.
Organisers said that the meals comprised vegetables, dal, rice, puri and a sweet. Those who attended the rally were served twice a day, apart from snacks and tea as breakfast. Almost 50 India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteers and 60 hired help have been working to cook and serve the food.
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