Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated 45 Atal Canteens out of the planned 100 in the national capital on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The initiative aims to provide affordable and nutritious meals to the public at highly subsidized rates. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and BJP leaders Ashish Sood and Tarvinder Singh Marwah were present at the inauguration event and were seen dining at the Atal Canteen to commemorate the occasion.
Addressing the attendees, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta paid homage to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, referring to him as a “yug purush” who was born a century ago. She highlighted that the decision to launch the Atal Canteens was made as the 101st birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee approached. Gupta emphasized that the inauguration of 45 out of the 100 proposed Atal Canteens is just the beginning, with the remaining canteens set to open after necessary preparations are completed.
Gupta explained that individuals can enjoy meals at these canteens for only Rs 5, with the government subsidizing Rs 25 of the actual meal cost of around Rs 30. She mentioned that the food served at the canteens is “satvik,” underscoring its nutritious and wholesome qualities. The initiative, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of service and good governance, aims to ensure that no one in Delhi sleeps hungry and that food is received with dignity.
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta were the first to receive meal slips, symbolizing the launch of the facility providing meals at Rs 5. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari praised the initiative as a meaningful tribute on Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s manifesto promises. The Atal Canteens, a significant pledge in the BJP’s Delhi election manifesto, target providing accessible and nutritious food to the city’s residents, particularly daily wage earners, laborers, and low-income families.
