Warangal to replicate Hyderabad 5 meal plan

​Warangal: Taking a cue from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) - run Rs 5 mid-day meal scheme that turned out to be a big draw among the poor in the State capital, the government has plans to extend it to Warangal Urban district soon.

Considering the magnitude of the floating population majorly consisting of farmers, labourers and those in need of medical care who turn to city every day, and to serve the mid-day meal needs of nearly 52,000 schoolchildren in Warangal Urban district, the administration sought the expertise of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, run by Hare Krishna Movement.

It may be noted here that the Foundation looks after 108 mid-day meal counters in GHMC that serve food to nearly 90,000 people. Warangal, the second largest city in the State with nearly 10 lakh population, also attracts hordes of floating populace estimated to be around two lakh every day due to the presence of MGM Regional Hospital, Enumamula Agriculture Market, said to be the second largest market in Asia, and hundreds of educational institutions, viz. Kakatiya University, NIT, Kakatiya Medical College etc.

As the economy of Warangal region is predominantly agriculture-based, the mid-day meal plan would be of immense help to those people, especially farmers and patients, visiting the city. Against this backdrop, the district administration and the representatives of the Foundation dwelt at length about the modalities of the scheme on Friday. It’s learnt that each meal - rice, dal, sambar and chutney – costs around Rs 24.

As per the plan, the four counters located at Warangal Railway Station, MGM Hospital, Public Garden and Kazipet railway Station will provide meals to nearly 4,000 poor people, while the other counter at the Market yard will cater to the needs of nearly 4,000 farmers. The subsidy amount will be borne by the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation and the Market Yard.

This apart, the administration wants to serve meals to nearly 52,000 children, who are already availing mid-day meal benefit in State-run schools. The Rs 8 spent on each student and the fine rice supplied for the purpose will be diverted to Rs 5 meal plan. In return, the children will get quality full meals. The meals will be transported to all the schools from the centralised kitchen which is coming up at the Enumamula market yard.

Deputy Chief Minister K Srihari said: “Efforts are on to launch the plan from Telangana Formation Day, June 2. During the second phase, the plan will be extended to nearly 27,000 children of the Anganwadi schools in the district.”