Kozhikode to become 'hunger-free' city

At a time when several states are making efforts to sell rice at Rs 2 per kg to the poor, the Kozhikode municipal corporation 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 P T 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 at 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 at 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 crporation 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.

Latheef said apart from government funds, financial help would also be sought from voluntary organisations to run the project effectively.

Noting that the city had gained substantially ever since it was declared 'litter-free', he said the corporation now wanted to ensure that the needy people have one meal a day.

Kozhikode was selected by leading Malayalam daily Malayala Manorama as the best corporation in the state for its cleanliness drive launched last year introducing strict measures to ensure waste and garbage disposal.

Besides banning plastic bags weighing below 30 microns, it also announced a penalty on individuals and institutions responsible for making roads dirty.

To support the cause, 'Kudumbashree' (self help group) units, comprising women members, were also formed by the corporation to pick up waste from every house in the city limits for a fee of Rs 30 a month and destroy them at an isolated place on the outskirts.

'If everything goes well, the Rs 2 mid-day meal scheme will be launched by the second week of January, thereby enabling Kozhikode to become the first corporation to do so', Latheef said.