RS.5 MEAL SCHEME BECOMES A BIG DRAW IN HYDERABAD

The Rs.5 mid-day meal scheme introduced for the poor by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) at Nampally Sarai in front of the railway station has been drawing large crowds for the last three days.

The subsidised meal is offered between 12 noon and 1 p.m. and queues were on witness much before the serving of the meal started. “There is a good response to the scheme and we are happy at the way the beneficiaries are getting hot and hygienic food at a small price,” GHMC Commissioner, Somesh Kumar said.

TEMPORARY COVER

The civic body is planning to provide some temporary cover to the food serving area here. “We want to ensure that rain or sun does not come to create obstacles for the scheme,” an officer quipped. The subsidised meal has the civic body pitching in with around Rs.15 for each plate that comprises rice, dal, curry and pickle.

The GHMC, which inaugurated the first of the proposed 50 meal counters in the city at Nampally is now finalising the rest of the locations in different parts of the city. The meal is provided on first come first serve basis for 300 persons and so far, the food has been sufficient, the official said.

INCREASE IN DEMAND

“But we can see an increase in the demand and it has been decided to assess the demand of the day each afternoon and arrange few more plates the next day accordingly,” he added.