Community Kitchen (Sramajibi Canteen) Completes 100 Days of Serving homeless and daily wage earners with food amid the lockdown caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic. Student Federation of India’s initiative of serving the needy is spread across India and in Bengal, more than 100 such canteens are working tirelessly to provide food to needy and homeless.
In Kolkata, Shelter Kitchen, Community Kitchen, or Sramajibi Canteen in Jadavpur and Mukundpur areas has received huge appreciation and support from people from all walks of life. Homeless and daily wage earners are worst affected during this Lockdown with no or very little money, are struggling to survive, who are getting their daily meals in these canteens.
People irrespective of their professional and social background have come forward and extended their support to this initiative by Left-wing student union, Student Federation of India, which are providing people with quality food at a very nominal charge. Community Kitchen Services are handled by students and volunteers free of cost.
The food packets comprising of Rice, Dal, Potato Soyabean, vegetables along with Meat and Fish are regularly distributed at a nominal charge of 20 rupees, as most of the fund is donated by people with large hearts. The food is packed maintaining hygiene, wrapped in foil papers before distributing to various collection centers via auto-rickshaw(s) and van(s) for the people.
Sudip Sengupta, Associate Member, and Secretary of Jadavpur-Tollygunge (ward no. 96, 98, 99, and 100) Shramajibi Canteen, speaking to News Sense said, “At present with gradual unlock process of the lockdown, food distribution by Jyoti Devi Shramajibi Canteen is done through pay services, a nominal amount is charged from people. Maximum amount of the food is subsidized through grants from people and from party members and associates”.
Meanwhile, Dhrubo Das associate member of Mukundapur Shramajibi Canteen says, “in Mukundapur Ward – 103, 104 and 109, the Community Kitchen is running at a stretch for 29 days, started from 16 June 2020 till date. Around 30 thousand families have also been supplied raw food materials like Rice, Vegetables, Oil, and Spices.”
Through this program, part-time construction laborers, shop-keepers, security guards of housing societies, daily wage earners, and homeless people are getting their daily foods. Expanding branches of Shramajibi Canteen in order to reach out to the needy is the need of the hour and the student organization is hopeful, through public support they will be able to achieve this objective shortly. If anyone wishes to support this initiative, kindly get in touch with the Sramajibi Canteen.
