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'Aam Aadmi Canteens' Will Serve Nutritious Food For Rs5 To Rs10: Delhi Government

Kejriwal Takes A Leaf Out Of Jayalalithaa's Playbook: Aam Aadmi Canteens To Offer Food For Rs10
Supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) shout slogans as they watch leader Arvind Kejriwal being sworn in as Delhi chief minister by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung during the ceremony at Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi on February 14, 2015.  Arvind Kejriwal promised to make Delhi India's first corruption-free state and end what he called its 'VIP culture' as he was sworn in as chief minister before a huge crowd of cheering supporters. AFP PHOTO / SAJJAD HUSSAIN (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
SAJJAD HUSSAIN via Getty Images
Supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) shout slogans as they watch leader Arvind Kejriwal being sworn in as Delhi chief minister by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung during the ceremony at Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi on February 14, 2015.  Arvind Kejriwal promised to make Delhi India's first corruption-free state and end what he called its 'VIP culture' as he was sworn in as chief minister before a huge crowd of cheering supporters. AFP PHOTO / SAJJAD HUSSAIN (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI -- Taking its cue from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's 'Amma Canteens,' the Delhi government is on the verge of setting up 'Aam Aadmi Canteens,' where breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available in the price range of Rs5 to Rs10 in the national capital.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today signed off on this initiative by the Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC) which aims to provide nutritious food in industrial areas, slums, hospitals, commercial hubs and colleges.

DDC Vice-Chairman Ashish Khetan told reporters today that the Chennai Municipal Corporation operates around 225 canteens at the annual cost of 65 crores. A "detailed roadmap," he said, has been prepared on the operation and funding of the proposed canteens.

Khetan said that Delhi has around 10 to 15 lakh construction workers, around 4.2 lakh families living in 685 slums, and around five lakh street hawkers.

The Aam Aadmi Canteens will replace the Jan Aahar Yojana which was launched in 2010 by Delhi's former chief minister Sheila Dikshit with similar goal of providing hygienic food to the poor.

Khetan did not provide details on the current status of the Jan Aahar scheme, but he said its canteens had served unhygienic food.

"We don't want to repeat with Jan Aahar," he said. "There will be checks and balances to ensure that quality and nutritious food is provided in proper quantities."

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.