Abhishek feeds more than 4 lakh poor, locals hail initiative

Kolkata: More than 4 lakh people living in the areas under Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency have been given cooked food under the Kalpataru scheme.

Initiated by Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress MP and president of the party's youth wing, the scheme began on April 12. Those who are getting benefits of the scheme are residents of Diamond Harbour, Maheshtala, Budge Budge, Satgachia, Bishnupur and Falta Assembly constituencies.

A spokesman for Trinamool Youth Congress said till April 17, the number of people fed reached a staggering 4,92,928. On April 17, a total of 97,097 people were given cooked food. Twenty one community kitchens have been opened and hectic activity to prepare the food begins since early morning. The cooks and helpers are sanitised along with those who take the food packets to the individual homes. A packet contains rice, vegetable curry and egg curry. The programme had started on April 12. On April 9, those interested had to call 033-40876262 to get themselves registered.

He had distributed ration including rice, dal, potato, edible oil, biscuits to the poor and the needy. Posters were given containing the dos and don'ts to fight against COVID-19. The food packets reach the beneficiaries anytime between 11 am and 11.30 am. Locals have expressed their gratitude and have hailed Abhishek's efforts as he is the only MP to have undertaken such a step to feed the hungry every day.