Shramik Annapurna food booths start

The food booths operated under the Shramik Annapurna Yojana, under which hot and nutritious food is provided at just Rs. 10 to construction workers have been restarted from today onwards.

The Gujarat Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, which functions under the Labour and Employment department, operates the food booths at kadiya nakas (labour points). However, the booths were shut on March 20 ahead of the nationwide lockdown in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are now moving towards Unlock 2.0 phase, as construction activities gather momentum. In view of this, we have decided to restart the Shramik Annapurna food booths. We have issued instructions to strictly follow social distancing, besides mandatory use of masks, gloves apron and hair cap, and regular sanitization of booths,” said Vipul Mittra, additional chief secretary, Labour and Employment department.

Mittra said that initially, 62 food booths in eight districts have resumed from today. These include 18 in Ahmedabad West, 3 in Gandhinagar, 17 in Surat, 12 in Vadodara, 4 each in Bharuch and Bhavnagar, 3 in Navsari, and 1 in Anand.

In 10 Rs. tiffin workers get “6 Roti, 1 vegetable sabji, rice/ pulav, chatni/ pickle and fry chilli. Also, sweet once in a week”

He added that food booths in the remaining kadiya naka will also be reopened gradually.