PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, March 8: Mukhyamantri Dal Bhat Yojana running at Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) is a source of appetite to nearly 600 people daily arriving at the super speciality hospital for treatment.
The place is being run by the 10 women of Mukta Mahila Vikas Samiti which operates from 10 in the morning to 9 at night.
The people reaching here get food two times a day at Rs 5 per meal with a menu comprising rice, soya-bean potato vegetable or chana with dal, green chilli and salt.
Jaya who has been running the place since 2011 said, “We get rice, lentil and soya chunks from the government at a nominal rate which we utilise to prepare for the preparation of the food. Apart from that the spices and other materials are being purchased by the money we receive from the consumers.”
“Nearly 600 people reach here daily to have food and we take special care of cleanliness so that quality food is served to all,” Jaya said.
“We also serve egg curry at a nominal cost of Rs 10 which adds up to the taste of the consumers,” Jaya added.
Sources said for one week, 80 kg rice is provided to each centre at the rate of Rs 1 per kg likewise, soybean is provided at Rs 49 per kg and while chana is given at Rs 38 per kg. “We purchase potato, spices, chilly, salt and cooking coal based on the amount collected from customers. Also, the salary of our cooks and staff is managed from the same amount,” said Arvind Tiwari, manager of the RIMS Dal Bhat Kendra.
Customers have to write their names on paper, sign and then take a token for having a one time meal at this centre.
However, the provision of clean drinking water seems doubtful in these centres. Customers were seen drinking the tap water collected in a plastic drum.
An attendant Ramesh, who had reached RIMS for the treatment of her wife from Hazaribagh, said that he has been here for the past 15 days and is having food here only. “The food is good and it is a boon for people like us who do not have a lot of money to spend on food and living expenses,” he said.
To provide the best benefits for those people who are suffering from poverty, the government of Jharkhand has introduced the scheme of providing food through low-cost hotels. The scheme, which was initiated by the chief minister of Jharkhand during the year 2011, has been opened across various places within the state and they were all performing well during their initial launch. During the consecutive months, it saw a lot of crises and they were closed one by one due to lack of proper funds and salary issues for workers at the facilities.
