Delhi Government Launches Atal Canteens Offering Meals At ₹5
In celebration of the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Delhi government inaugurated the first phase of the Atal Canteen scheme on Thursday, launching 45 canteens across the national capital. This initiative aims to provide affordable and nutritious meals for just ₹5 to laborers, daily-wage workers, and residents of slum areas.
The canteens were inaugurated at various locations by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with MPs, Union Ministers, and Delhi Cabinet Ministers. During the inauguration ceremony in Lajpat Nagar, the Chief Minister stated that the scheme reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring food security with dignity. She explained that the symbolic ₹5 charge is intended to preserve self-respect, encourage responsible consumption, and reduce food wastage.
Implemented through the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), each Atal Canteen will serve lunch and dinner daily, providing around 1,000 meals per day. Once all 100 planned canteens become operational, it is anticipated that over one lakh people will benefit daily. The remaining 55 canteens are set to open within the next 15 to 20 days.
The Delhi government has allocated ₹104.24 crore for this scheme. While beneficiaries will pay ₹5 per meal, the government will subsidize the remaining ₹25 per plate cost. A standardized menu, including dal, rice, roti, and vegetables, has been prepared to ensure consistent quality across all canteens.
In addition to launching the canteens, the Delhi government also commemorated Vajpayee’s birth anniversary with initiatives focused on education and heritage. Education Minister Ashish Sood distributed educational tablets to 240 meritorious students from government schools to support digital learning amid online classes, which have been necessary due to air pollution restrictions.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena announced the naming of an 11-acre park, developed by the Delhi Development Authority along Mahatma Gandhi Marg, as Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sadbhavana Udyan. The park will also feature a statue of the former Prime Minister in the future.
