CM Arvind Kejriwal launched the Mukhyamantri Poshahaar Yojana

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched the Mukhyamantri Poshahaar Yojana, a shelter home feeding initiative in collaboration with the Akshaya Patra Foundation. The CM explained how no government cares for the people who rely on these shelters as they do not make up their vote-banks and how the previous governments would each year be scolded by the High Court over mismanagement of the shelters. Kejriwal emphasised on how the Delhi Government has completely transformed the state of these shelters and made them habitable as is the duty of a sensitive and responsible government.

The Urban Development Minister of Delhi Satyendar Jain and the Chairman of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, Madhu Pandit Dasa were also present at the launch. Satyendar Jain informed the gathering that meals were being provided at the shelters since the onset of the pandemic and will now be permanently provided twice a day in collaboration with Akshaya Patra. Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa appalled the humanitarian initiatives of the Delhi Government at the occasion.

Post the launch, CM Arvind Kejriwal and Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain kicked off the initiative by serving food at the shelter.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while launching the programme, said, “the poorest of the poor people reside in the shelter homes operated by the Delhi Government. They are those people who are forced to sleep on roads & footpaths. These people have nothing with them. They come to the shelter homes to protect themselves from the harsh weather and get a place to sleep. These people do not make up the vote-bank of any political party, maximum people do not possess Voter Cards. This is why no matter which party came into power earlier, they did not care about the condition of all these people. They see no point in caring for them and spending on their lives. We came into politics in 2013-2014. Prior to that, every year we would read in newspapers how the High Courts would categorically scold the then governments of Delhi over not making sufficient arrangements for the shelter homes. Every year the court would scold them, the governments yet would not improve the conditions.”

“Not just in Delhi, but throughout the country no government tried to care for this section of the society. After taking charge of the Delhi Government the first thing we focused on was the improvement of the shelter homes. I’m pleased with how in the past 6-7 years the government has transformed the condition of the shelter homes that the people who come to see the shelter homes, even they spontaneously say that the Delhi Government has worked to help the poor. The condition of all the shelters was completely transformed. We had to even arrange for beds and living utilities. Earlier, the condition was so disastrous that not even the poorest of the poor wanted to come and live under the roof of the shelter homes; the toilets were terrible, there was no drinking water, no provision of bathing. Along with the minister, I myself inspected many shelter homes. One can understand when the CM himself inspects the shelter homes, then the entire bureaucratic machinery is compelled to work on the ground and improve the projects,” he added.

“At present, the condition of the shelters is very good. 209 shelter homes across the city are serving 6,000 people right now and around 12,000 people reside in them in the winters. In the last 6-7 years, you would not have seen any news about the High Court scolding the Delhi Government over the shelters,” the CM said.

“The time has now come for a new beginning. During the time of the pandemic onset, we had started arrangements for two meals a day in the shelter homes. Now I am delighted that the Akshaya Patra foundation has come forward to take the initiative ahead. Akshaya Patra, as we all are aware, is an arm of the ISKCON temple. They work on the principle of ‘dharma’. The work they do is real ‘dharma’, to feed the hungry, that is real ‘dharma’. Their motto is that they won’t let anyone sleep hungry. Across the country, in many states, they are doing fabulous work. When I last visited Bangalore, I had the chance to visit their kitchens and setup. They have an extremely hygienic setup and cook with the help of machines. I am very happy that the foundation is collaborating with the Delhi Government to permanently feed the needy in the shelter homes,” he added.

Kejriwal further said, “the first duty of any responsible government is to work towards the betterment of the poorest of the poor, but the governments did not serve the cause because they were not their vote-bank. But the Aam Aadmi Party government is a sensitive and responsible government. We have done maximum work for the benefit of the poor.”

Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain said, “Around six thousand people live in the shelter homes operated by the DUSIB. Akshaya Patra will be providing free meals twice a day to all these people. When the COVID wave came around 1.5 years back, the Chief Minister had ordered the department to provide 2 meals a day to all those people who were staying at shelter homes and since then the government is providing meals, today we are handing over the responsibility to Akshaya Patra, I’m thankful to them for coming forward to take up the responsibility. They will not only provide meals to the 6,000 people living in shelter homes, but would also feed 3,000 labourers at Delhi Government’s project sites. The strength of the shelters doubles in the winters, and apt provisions are being made in order to feed everyone in winters as well.”

Akshaya Patra Foundation Chairman, Madhu Pandit Dasa, said, “The Government of Delhi is working tirelessly to address the needs of its citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite various challenges, humanitarian efforts undertaken by the Delhi Government under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal are commendable. Shelter homes set up by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board across the city are great examples of these efforts. Shelter homes provide free accommodation to the homeless and also satiate their hunger. Families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, senior citizens, widows, single women, individuals battling addiction, and patients who need medical care, use the facility of the shelter homes extensively. We are happy to partner with the Government of Delhi to feed hygienic and wholesome lunch and dinner to these beneficiaries.”

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