In Delhi’s Atal Canteens, food to fill a stomach
The Delhi government's Atal Canteens provide affordable, nutritious meals to low-income individuals like migrant workers for just ₹5. The initiative serves as a vital safety net for the city's vulnerable population, offering a daily cooked meal amidst economic hardship.
Why it matters
This program highlights urban poverty challenges in India and the role of government-subsidized food security initiatives in supporting marginalized communities.
It is around 11 a.m. and the downpour is intensifying. Mahesh Saini, 40, with a sack slung over his left shoulder and a stick in his right hand, reaches the Nehru Nagar Atal Canteen, an initiative of the Delhi government to provide meals at ₹5 each. As he enters, a man from a counter inside shouts, waving his hand: “ Bora bahar (Leave the sack outside).”
Mahesh, a ragpicker, puts down the white plastic sack, ties its mouth carefully, and leaves it next to the door. He props up his stick there too. His once-white T-shirt and his hair tell the same story: neither has been washed for a while.
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