Aping Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa 'Amma Canteen' scheme, the Arvind Kejriwal government on Thursday decided to launch its own canteens which will provide meals for Rs 5 to Rs 10. Kejriwal's 'Aam Aadmi Canteen' will replace the 'Jan Ahaar' project which was launched by former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit.
The scheme designed by the Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC), an advisory body of the state government, has been approved by Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and will now be taken up by the state cabinet for consent.
“The poor get bad quality food. Aam Aadmi Canteen will provide hygienic food along with RO (reverse osmosis) water. Food will be sold at a reasonable rate with the maximum amount being Rs.10,” DDC vice president Ashish Khetan said on Thursday.
In the first phase, canteens will be opened near industrial areas, hospitals, educational institutions and commercial houses. Processes and mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that the food is both prepared and served in hygienic conditions. All canteens shall be fitted with RO systems to provide safe drinking water.
Khetan added that Delhi has roughly 1 million construction workers, 500,000 street hawkers and 420,000 families living in slums who will benefit from these canteens.
The Aam Aadmi Canteen scheme will replace the Jan Ahar Yojana set up by the previous government led by the Congress that provided two meals a day at Rs.15 each. The canteen will be run by the food and supplies department of the Delhi government.
