Delhi gets 25 more Atal Canteens; total 71

New Delhi: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena and chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inaugurated 25 new Atal Canteens in the city, bringing the total number to 71. The newly inaugurated canteens, spread across the city, were launched digitally from an event in Krishna Nagar. During the inauguration, LG and CM shared a meal with people at the canteen. "In the previous govt's 11 years, the canteen files remained stuck, while in just one year of the BJP govt, 71 Atal Canteens already opened. This is our speed and scale of work. From today, 71,000 thalis will be served daily in these Atal Canteens. These Atal Canteens are a tribute to every hard-working person," said CM Gupta. CM said, inspired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi govt is opening 100 Atal Canteens so that no needy person in the city has to sleep on an empty stomach, and they can get nutritious food with dignity for just Rs 5. LG said the initiative, launched on Dec 25 last year on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was particularly helpful for migrant workers, students, rickshaw pullers, sanitation workers and daily wage labourers. Delhi govt provides a subsidy of Rs 25 per meal so that beneficiaries can get food at a cheaper rate. According to the govt, over 14.5 lakh meals were served within 57 days of the scheme's launch. The canteens are operated by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board.