Rs 10 meal touches over 3,000 lives daily in Ludhiana

Jaganath Food For Life (JFFL), an organisation dedicated to serving nutritious meals to those in need, has been making a significant impact in Ludhiana since its inception. Founded in 2017 by Satish Kumar Gupta and Naveen Bhatia, the idea for JFFL was inspired by a similar initiative they witnessed in Varanasi.

They began their food service in 2018 with a mission to provide fresh, satvik and home-cooked meals to the underprivileged.

Each meal by JFFL is priced at just Rs 10 to ensure that food is not wasted and to avoid the stigma associated with receiving free meals. “The fixed price was introduced to encourage people to value the food, and often those in genuine need are given meals for free,” said Gupta. Today, the organisation operates 20 booths across Ludhiana, serving over 3,000 people daily.

The food, prepared in the kitchen of the Lord Jagannath temple, is first offered to God before being served to the public. Anil Saluja, who oversees the food section, explained, “During the pandemic, we served free meals to nearly 30,000 people. Apart from the booths, we also provide regular meals at three schools and continue to offer food to those in need.”

Sunita, who came to the Mini Secretariat for work without carrying lunch, shared her experience: “I saw that food was available for only Rs 10. It was simple, yet delicious, and I didn’t hesitate to buy the thali.”

Manpreet, a volunteer at one of the booths, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to see the satisfaction on people’s faces after they have their meal. There is no greater happiness than feeding the hungry.”

JFFL’s booths are open from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., or until the food runs out, ensuring that anyone who is hungry is fed. The organisation’s efforts continue to be appreciated by the community, especially by those in need.