New Delhi, 27 December (H.S.): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday inaugurated two new Atal Canteens at Shalimar Bagh and Pitampura and joined workers there for a meal. The event was attended by BJP Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal and Municipal Councillor Anita Jain, underscoring the government’s commitment to affordable food initiatives for the city’s working class.

In a post shared on social media platform X, the Chief Minister wrote that the Atal Canteens offer a hot and nutritious meal for just ₹5. She said the initiative, inspired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of Antyodaya (upliftment of the last person), serves as a mark of dignity and support for the hardworking men and women contributing to Delhi’s development and everyday functioning.

Chief Minister Gupta added that her government is steadily expanding core civic infrastructure across Shalimar Bagh for holistic development so that “every household finds convenience, every worker is treated with respect, and every citizen gains confidence in governance.”

The Atal Canteen Scheme was launched on December 25 — the birth anniversary of the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Under the program, the Delhi government plans to open 100 Atal Canteens across the capital to provide affordable, hygienic food options for daily wage earners and low-income citizens. In the first phase, 45 canteens were inaugurated at various locations in Delhi.

The initiative has already received a massive response. On the first day of the launch, December 25, as many as 17,587 people availed meals at ₹5 each, while on December 26, 15,805 people benefitted from the scheme. Officials said the consistent turnout within the first two days highlights the growing public trust in the government’s welfare-oriented food programs.

With the addition of the new outlets at Shalimar Bagh and Pitampura, the Atal Canteen network continues to expand, symbolizing the administration’s effort to combine affordability, nutrition, and dignity for every section of society.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar