WB Govt Scheme That Was Started To Feed Elderly During The Pandemic Is Now Serving Around 80 Families

Within a span of just two months, this scheme by the West Bengal Government has managed to provide food and essentials to around 80 families during the pandemic. By Tanvi Jain

 

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A scheme by the government of West Bengal under which the elderlies of Kolkata were being delivered food and groceries at their doorsteps during the lockdown, has managed to feed around 80 families across the city, within just two months. 

The scheme by the West Bengal Comprehensive Area Development Corporation (CADC)  is outsourced to women self-help groups (SHGs). The canteen, located in the CADC’s office in Salt Lake, is run by eight women from SHGs at Haringhata in Nadia district, who are replaced by a new group every four months. The canteen not only serves guests but also home delivers food and other essentials. While the SHGs produce the raw material, CADC’s Project Directors, present in every district, shortlist groups. 

 

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All the orders are placed via WhatsApp, a few hours from the delivery time. While a vegetarian meal comprising of rice, roti, dal, bhaji and sabzi costs INR 35, a non-vegetarian meal costs INR 85. Apart from this, breakfast and snacks are also delivered. Moreover, as these women live in the CADC dormitory itself, they also accept late orders, provided someone can collect it from there.  

The service was first started by the state government in February 2020 to provide food to the staff of government offices, within the area, but was later shut. However, it was restarted in June amid lockdown to feed the elderly living alone. The West Bengal government has now even started maintaining a database of all senior citizens across Bidhannagar, Kolkata and Howrah. 

 

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This is one of the many examples of volunteer groups that have come forward to feed the needy during the lockdown. In fact, the pandemic witnessed many high-end restaurants and hotels not just in West Bengal but across the country join hands to distribute meals to migrant workers, COVID-19 frontliners and others in need. 

Related: These 5 Vegetarian Delights From West Bengal Will Make You Drool!