Shut since Covid, admn ‘not interested’ in Sanjhi Rasoi

It has been more than three years since the Sanjhi Rasoi scheme, which was started by the administration to offer subsidised meals to the visitors, discontinued. No such scheme has taken off in the district ever since. DC Himanshu Aggrawal said the scheme would resume if any interested party approached him.

Sanjhi Rasoi that was run at the Civil Hospital had started on May 16, 2017. The scheme was inaugurated by then MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh along with then Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma. On the first day, 291 people partook of the lunch by paying Rs 10.

During Covid, like everything else, Sanjhi Rasoi discontinued and then could never be resumed. A senior administration officer said every government paid heed to their own schemes and programmes. “This is one of those schemes that was never revived as the government showed no interest.

Under the scheme, food was served at Rs 10 to the needy. The Ann Jal Sewa Trust, an NGO, was running the project. In the beginning, for cooking and cleanliness, 14 persons were employed by the NGO.

When the scheme was started, 500-600 persons used to come to have meals daily. Meals were provided in the afternoon, from 1pm to 3 pm. The rasoi was being run in the Civil Hospital building that was meant for a diagnostic centre.

At present, Dhan Guru Ramdas Ji Langar Sewa is providing free food to the needy. From Monday to Friday, the organisation provides free food at the Civil Hospital. “Our everyday menu is different. Today, we distributed ‘curry chawal’”, said Buta Singh, one of the associates with the organisation.

Apart from this, the mobile vans of the organisation also serve langar at the bus stand and railway station.

About the scheme

Sanjhi Rasoi that was run at the Civil Hospital was started on May 16, 2017. The scheme was inaugurated by then MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh along with then DC Varinder Kumar Sharma. On the first day, 291 people partook of the lunch by paying Rs 10. During Covid, like everything else, Sanjhi Rasoi discontinued and then could never be resumed.

Now, NGO provides food

The NGO serves simple, nutritious, vegetarian meals to the poor which lack access to adequate nutrition. Strict rules of hygiene and cleanliness are followed when preparing the meals in two kitchens located in Pur Heeran, Hoshiarpur and Madhir, Sri Muktsar Sahib. “From the kitchen, free meals are distributed via uniquely designed food trucks at various locations, primarily civil hospitals and government primary schools across Punjab,” Buta Singh further said.