Shyam Babu (50) was a relieved man on Saturday. And he had strong reasons to be.
First, his wife underwent an operation at the Osmania General Hospital (OGH) on Wednesday and is responding well. Secondly, the farmhand from Bhainsa in Adilabad district will be entitled to a free lunch.
The ‘Bhojanamrita’ scheme launched at the hospital by Hare Krishna Movement on Saturday will provide lunch to the attendants of inpatients – about 1,000 of them. The scheme is sponsored by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL).
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Apart from the OGH, the scheme is being implemented at Niloufer Hospital, Indo-American Cancer Hospital, Mahaveer Hospital and the Government Maternity Hospital at Sultan Bazaar.
The beneficiaries will be served rice and curries everyday and a sweet once a week.
For many like Ashok, a labourer from Tandur, the scheme will help save some money. “I will be able to save about Rs. 25 a day. In these hard times, it is a big amount for me,” he said. President of the Hyderabad chapter of the Hare Krishna Movement Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa said they planned to extend the scheme to other government hospitals in the city. Justice Chandraiah of the AP High Court hoped others would emulate the initiative.
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Shelters for homeless
The GHMC will shortly open shelters for footpath dwellers in the city. Speaking on sidelines of the launch of ‘Bhojanamrita’ scheme, GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar said constructions of the shelters have already begun at five places. He invited NGOs to come forward to take up the cause. “We will provide necessary financial assistance if needed,” he said.