India - Kozhikode to become 'hunger-free' city

At a time when several states are making efforts to sell rice at Rs two per kg to the poor, the municipal corporation in Kozhikode plans to provide the mid-day meal at the same price to make it a hunger-free city.

"The primary aim is to make Kozhikode a hunger-free city by providing mid-day meals to the needy at Rs two," Corporation Deputy Mayor PT Abdul Latheef said.

The idea to launch the novel scheme was mooted at a recent meeting of government officials of the health and finance department in Kozhikode.

"A project report in this regard has already been submitted to the government and the modalities to implement it will be worked out at a ministerial-level meeting to be held in Kozhikode on December 22," he said, but declined to provide details of cost estimates.

Full details of how the project will be implemented will be revealed after the meeting, he said.

A year after it was declared as 'litter-free' city, the Corporation is now keen on achieving another first by becoming a 'hunger-free' city, Latheef said.

Initially, the Corporation plans to implement the scheme at government hospitals where the visitors would be offered the meal. "Then, it will be extended to all who find it hard to meet both the ends," he said.

Unlike the free noon meal scheme offered in schools in some states, the Rs two mid-day meal will be made available for all. "We will form separate centres for the purpose from where any person can have the meal," Latheef said.