Shramik Annapurna food booths to reopen from June 18

The food booths operated under the Shramik Annapurna Yojana, under which hot and nutritious food is provided at just Rs. 10 to construction workers, will restart from June 18.

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.

“The Annapurna food booths were temporarily closed because of the lockdown, and to avoid crowding. However, we are now in the Unlock 1.0 phase, and even construction activities have resumed. In view of this, we have decided to restart the Shramik Annapurna food booths,” said Vipul Mittra, additional chief secretary, Labour and Employment department.

Mittra said that initially 62 food booths in eight districts will reopen from June 18. These include 18 in Ahmedabad West, three in Gandhinagar, 17 in Surat, 12 in Vadodara, four each in Bharuch and Bhavnagar, three in Navsari, and one in Anand.

“We have issued instructions to strictly follow social distancing, besides mandatory use of gloves and masks, and regular sanitization,” he said, adding that food booths in the remaining districts will also be reopened gradually.