Ranchi LPG Crisis Hits Community Kitchens: Social Orgs Adapt to Keep Feeding Needy

Ranchi: Amid the ongoing LPG crisis, social organisations that provide low-cost meals to the needy across the city are finding it increasingly difficult to continue their services. Several community kitchens were forced to look for alternative fuel options after their cooking gas stock ran out, to keep their services running and help the needy in the city.

The Ranchi district Marwari Sammelan, as part of its social service, has been organising lunch for people at a nominal rate of Rs 10 only.

Pramod Agarwal, who is associated with the service, said that the society prepares 200 plates of food daily, and people who eat it only pay Rs 10 per plate. They are involved in this service for the past four years. The organisation did not stop the service even during the crisis, and they are shifting to cooking food with the help of traditional coal ovens, Kumar said.

The crisis also affected the Ranchi Roti Bank operating at Rims, which provides food to attendants of patients admitted to the hospital every day.

With LPG cylinders becoming scarce, the Roti Bank shifted to electric stoves to prepare meals. However, they were compelled to reduce the quantity of food to ensure that the service continues despite limited resources.

“For the last six years, we provided food to people. Even during the Covid period, we did not find it difficult to continue the kitchen. But this time, it became extremely difficult,” said Vijay Pathak, the founder of the organisation. “Almost 90% of the patients undergoing treatment at Rims are from the economically weaker section of society. If I can provide food at least once a day, that’s a great relief for them. So I will not stop the service at any cost, no matter how hard it becomes,” Pathak added.