‘Have Rs 10 But Meal Not Available’ – Is Jan Aahar Scheme a Dud?

There were also those who were coming to buy second and third plates to fill their stomachs.

A man waits for rice and chickpeas to be served at the Rs 10 Jan Aahar scheme stall. 

(Photo: Natisha Mallick/The Quint)

When they launched the Jan Aahar scheme on Monday, all of us on the same street weren’t allowed to open our stalls. 

Sohan Patel, Owner, ‘Real South Indian Taste’

Both the <i>puri </i>and <i>halwa </i>are missing. Even the quantity has reduced from its day of launch.

Aadesh, Security Guard&nbsp;

<i> Haath mein 10 rupiya hai magar bhojan nahi mila. </i>(I have Rs 10 in my hands but I did not get a meal.)

Dinesh Mishra, Pujari

Three months prior to the launch of Rs 10 scheme, the stalls serving lunch at Rs 18, as started by the previous government, were shut down. On the opening day, the new food stall was a great hit, thanks to the puri and halwa. However, by the third day, opinions were divided as the Rs 10 deal was only liked by some, while others complained about the quantity served and the hollow claims of it being a filling meal.

Menu and pricing at the Jan Aahar Stall in Green Park, New Delhi. 

The food served at these stalls is prepared at a mass kitchen in Sultanpur on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road, while the previous Jan Aahar stalls had the provision of preparing meals at the stall itself. This resulted in food running out at the new stalls by 1:30 pm which is usually the peak lunch hour.

The stalls saw a good crowd there to have a cheap meal, but many amongst them were also people who were coming to buy second and third plates to fill their stomachs.

People gather at the new Jan Aahar Scheme stall in Green Park, New Delhi. 

DS Rawat, who mans the cash counter, says they get three containers of rice and three containers of chole. Each container has a capacity of about 27 kg, which amounts to a total of 81 kg of rice and chole.

They are able to feed around 250 people with the quantity they get in two hours.

Md Shafiq (face not visible) serves the rice and chole from the steel containers. 

The Quint spoke to a few people having the Rs 10 lunch at the stall.

Sanjiv Kumar Yadav, who was accompanying an outpatient from Bihar to AIIMS hospital, had come to Yusuf Sarai Medicine Market on Monday when someone informed him about the cheap food available within walking distance. He has been coming back for his lunch to save a few bucks since then.

On Monday, the food was really good – I had rice, chole, puris and even halwa. Although, since yesterday, they are serving only rice and chole – but that’s also fine, considering I only have to spend Rs 10 per plate. Otherwise, I was spending Rs 50 for each meal. I wish this stall was outside AIIMS Hospital instead of Green Park, as it could’ve benefited even more people, and I wouldn’t have had to travel all the way from there.&nbsp;

Sanjiv Kumar Yadav

Sanjiv Kumar having his lunch at Green Park, New Delhi. 

Aadesh works as a security guard in Green Park and usually packs his lunch from home.

On Monday, when the scheme was launched, they served delicious halwa. Thinking I would enjoy halwa-puri again<i>, </i>I didn’t get my lunch today. But both the puri and halwa<i> </i>are missing. Even the quantity has reduced from its day of launch. This is my second plate of rice and chole. They should give at least two rotis along with the rice and chole like the previous Jan Aahar scheme.&nbsp;

Aadesh

Aadesh has his lunch outside his office, which is close to the Jan Aahar stall in Green Park, New Delhi. 

Jay Kumar Yadav was of the last few who was able to get himself a plate for Rs 10.

This food is cheap and simple. The other stalls here have oily food and it costs at least Rs 50 for a plate.&nbsp;

Jay Kumar Yadav

Jay Kumar near the stall after having his lunch. 

DS Rawat mans the cash counter at the new Jan Aahar stall.

“We served 250 people today,” said Rawat.

Cash collected at the Jan Aahar Stall. 

Dinesh Mishra lives and works in Pushp Vihar. When he read in the papers about the stall that serves food for just Rs 10, he decided to stop by at the stall, as he was already in the area for some bank work. Unfortunately, he was late and the stall had run out of food.

I saw an ad in the newspaper and thought I could have a meal from a scheme launched on Atalji’s birthday. I even have Rs 10, but I couldn’t buy a meal. Looks like now I’ll have to spend Rs 30-40.

Dinesh Mishra

Dissappointed Dinesh Mishra near the Jan Aahar stall in Green Park. 

After winding up work at the stall, DS Rawat also piles up all the plates in a gunny bag which would be picked up by the garbage collectors. 

The Quint also spoke to a few other food stalls who have been running their business for some years.

Real South Indian Taste is run by Sohan Patel.

When they launched the scheme on Monday, all of us on the same street weren’t allowed to open our stalls. Some MCD officials came the previous evening and told us not to open our stalls. We are losing business of about Rs 2,000 daily because of this scheme. It is only after they run out of food that we get some people dropping by for their lunch. Even our regular customers are going to these stalls.&nbsp;

Sohan Patel&nbsp;

Sohan and Sudeep run the Real South India food stall in Green Park and are seeing fewer customers for the last three days. 

Rohit, who now runs Mama Chur Chur Naan outside Green Park Metro station, started by his father, says that sales have been a little less since the time Rs 10 lunch was launched.

If people get cheaper food they will obviously eat that. It is one of the main reasons we are not getting as many people at our stall.&nbsp;

Rohit&nbsp;

Customers have to pay at least Rs 40 to have two naans and aloo sabzi at the Mama Chur Chur Naan. 

Kallu Kashyap runs a roti-sabzi stall on his cycle, and now sets up after the Jan Aahar stall closes.

For the past three days, I don’t have as much work. I have faced a loss of Rs 500 at least.

Kallu Kashyap&nbsp;

Kallu Kashyap runs a roti-sabzi stall on his cycle in Green Park for the last 20 years. 

The previous Jan Aahar scheme – started by Sheila Dixit government – used to give rice, two rotis, sabzi and dal for Rs 18. It was shut down about two months prior to the launch of the Rs 10 scheme stall.

Closed Jan Aahar stall which used to be a hit in the area; started by the Shiela Dixit government.