Aam Aadmi canteens to be set up in Delhi this year: Jung

New Delhi, Mar 22: Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today said "Aam Aadmi Canteens", announced by the AAP government in 2015 for providing nutritious food at affordable rates, will be set up in several parts of the city this year.

The government is expected to set aside Rs 50 crore for the scheme, modelled after Tamil Nadu's highly-subsidised Amma canteens, to provide nutritious food to migrant workers in the national capital.

"Though the per capita income is the highest in Delhi, my government is conscious of the fact that the city is home to many migrant workers who have left their families back home and cannot afford hygienic nutritious food even once a day," Jung said during his address on the first day of the budget session.

The government will provide nutritious hygienically cooked meal to the vulnerable population at an "affordable cost", he said.

Ashish Khetan, Vice Chairman of the Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC) of AAP government had announced the scheme in July last year. Jung said the government also intended to construct more old age homes for which land has been acquired at 10 locations in the city.

The government now runs three such facilities. "Also, in the present financial year, 3,84,545 persons have benefited under old age assistance scheme. Under Delhi Pension scheme to women in distress, 1,53,487 persons were benefited.

"Similarly, there are 2,334 beneficiaries under the scheme for financial assistance to poor widows for marriage of their daughters and orphan girls," Jung said.

The five-day budget session will continue till March 31. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will present the Budget on March 28.

PTI