he menu and their target group differ. But their goal is the same - to feed the hungry. In addition to food served free of cost at places of worship and the public who donate food to organisations and homes, there are a few organisations in the city that are striving hard to prepare and organise food for the needy almost every day. While some are able to do so, others are doing so regularly, say once a week or so.
Serving the patients
Outside Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, there is a long queue near a blue coloured autorickshaw. Patients and attendants wait to get rice, rasam and, cooked vegetables served by Pasiyaara Soru . Run by M. Rajasethumurali, the organisation prepares and serves food to not less than 130 persons a day.
In the morning, patients call him asking if he would bring food that afternoon. “It costs Rs. 3,000 a day and we feed them at least on 15 days a month, for the last three years. The public either prepare food and give us or donate money and ask us to prepare food,” he says. On Sunday, M. Sathish sponsored the food, in memory of his wife who passed away last December. Mr. Rajasethumurali has five siblings and lost his father at an early age. “I am trying to stop starvation of others,” he said. At times, people handover leftover food at functions. On such days, they feed up to 1,500 persons.
It is one nutritious breakfast Nizhal Maiyam has been serving orphanages and old-age homes in and around the city from 1999 on Sundays. Forty-one year old B. Murugan, who heads the organisation, started serving sambar rice to 25 persons by taking it to homes on a two-wheeler. Now he serves it to 993 persons in 17 old-age homes and orphanages. Preparing food begins at 2 a.m. and goes on till 6 a.m. Accompanied by his wife and friend, Murugan prepares rice and sambar with ghee and vegetables and a team of 50 volunteers distribute the food. It takes Rs. 10,500 to prepare sambar rice a day. “Our needs are met by members and we don’t ask money from others, unless someone sponsored,” he said. On reason why he is doing it, he said “I was on the platform and know what starvation is”.
Value of food
Padmanaban Gopalan, 23-year-old social entrepreneur, is from a farmer’s family and knows value of hard work needed for production of food. “By wasting food we not only waste money but also the hard work of farmers. On the other hand there are many deserving people. We are trying to bridge the gap,” he said. His organisation, No Food Waste group, started collecting leftover food in January 2014, and managed to feed 200 persons a month. “Now, we are feeding 300 to 500 slum dwellers and rag pickers a day,” he added. Their No Food Waste mobile app helps persons with surplus food to directly identify and deliver food to the hunger spots.
Now, we are feeding 300 to 500 slum dwellers and rag pickers a day
