Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the newly introduced ‘Atal Canteens’ have garnered a positive public reception, serving 64,446 individuals with Rs 5 meals within 72 hours of their launch. The Chief Minister shared this update on social media.
Gupta inaugurated 45 out of the planned 100 Atal Canteens in Delhi on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Additional canteens were subsequently opened by MLAs in their respective areas.
The primary goal of this initiative is to offer cost-effective and nutritious meals to the public at heavily subsidized prices. Government records show that on December 25, a total of 17,587 individuals were provided meals, with 8,604 served during lunch and 8,983 during dinner.
By 7.30 p.m. on December 26, 15,805 people had availed meals at Atal Canteens, including 10,696 during lunch and 5,109 during the initial dinner hours, as per an official statement released by the government.
During the inauguration event, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and BJP leaders Ashish Sood and Tarvinder Singh Marwah were present, seen enjoying a meal at an Atal Canteen in honor of the occasion.
Chief Minister Gupta, addressing the audience, paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, referring to him as a “yug purush” born a century ago. She highlighted that the decision to launch Atal Canteens was a fitting tribute as Vajpayee’s 101st birth anniversary approached.
Gupta explained that individuals can access meals at these canteens for just Rs 5, with the actual cost being around Rs 30, as the government subsidizes Rs 25 per meal. She mentioned that Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and herself were the first to receive meal slips.
Describing the food served at the canteens as “satvik,” Gupta stressed its nutritious and wholesome nature. She further stated that the initiative was inspired by the principles of service, good governance, and the welfare of the underprivileged.
