Delhi’s Budget: ₹100 Crore for 100 Atal Canteens to Fight Hunger!

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the Delhi government will be spending ₹100 crore to open 100 Atal Canteens across Delhi in the budget for the year 2025-26. Gupta, who is also the finance minister, shared that the total budget is ₹1 lakh crore, which is a big jump of 31.5% from last year.

Gupta called this a “historic Budget,” saying that it marks the end of corruption and inefficiency. The government plans to increase money spent on important projects like roads, sewer systems, and water supply to ₹28,000 crore.

“This is not just an ordinary budget; it shows hope for everyone watching. We are focusing on changing Delhi’s economy for the better,” said CM Gupta in the assembly. She also mentioned that ₹5,100 crore is earmarked for the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, which supports women, and ₹1,000 crore has been set aside to improve transportation with the NCR region.

What are Atal Canteens?
Atal Canteens are affordable food stalls created in various Indian states that offer inexpensive, nutritious meals to people who are struggling financially. Named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, these canteens aim to fight hunger by providing meals for just ₹5 to those in need, especially in slum areas.

The Bharatiya Janata Party promised to start this Atal Canteen Scheme in Delhi as part of their plans before the 2025 elections. Inspired by similar initiatives like Tamil Nadu’s Amma Canteens and Karnataka’s Indira Canteens, these canteens are meant to help low-income families.

In other states like Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, similar food initiatives exist to provide meals for farmers and workers, offering healthy options at very low prices.