Delhi Launches Atal Canteens to Provide Nutritious Meals at ₹5

The Delhi government on Thursday inaugurated Atal Canteens across the national capital. The canteens provide nutritious meals at a nominal cost of ₹5. The initiative was launched to commemorate the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It aims to strengthen urban food security for workers. Additionally, it supports the urban poor and other vulnerable groups.

Scale and Financial Commitment of the Scheme

According to an official statement, the Delhi government has allocated ₹104.24 crore for the operation and management of the Atal Canteen scheme. A total of 100 canteens are being established across the city.

45 canteens were inaugurated virtually on Thursday
The remaining 55 canteens are expected to become operational within 15–20 days
Each canteen will serve around 1,000 meals daily
More than one lakh people are expected to benefit every day across Delhi

The large-scale rollout positions the scheme as one of the most extensive urban subsidised meal programmes in the country.

Inauguration and Leadership Message

The initiative was inaugurated at an Atal Canteen near Apna Bazaar in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta led the inauguration. Ministers and senior officials also shared meals at the canteen to review operations firsthand.

Addressing the gathering, Khattar described the initiative as a historic step. It is inspired by service, good governance, and human sensitivity. This reflects Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s people-centric governance philosophy. Authorities were directed to maintain strict standards of food quality and hygiene across all canteens.

Affordable Pricing and Nutritional Standards

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasised that the ₹5 pricing model preserves beneficiaries’ self-respect, encourages responsible consumption and discourages food wastage.

Beneficiary contribution: ₹5 per plate
Government subsidy: ₹25 per meal
Meal weight: ~600 grams
Nutritional value:
- 700–800 calories
- 20–25 grams of protein

Meals will be served twice daily:

Lunch: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Food quality will be monitored through FSSAI guidelines and testing by NABL-accredited laboratories, ensuring safety and consistency.

Operations, Transparency and Employment Generation

The scheme is also expected to generate local employment through kitchen operations, logistics and maintenance. Digital monitoring mechanisms will track meal distribution, hygiene compliance and fund utilisation, enhancing transparency and accountability in service delivery.