Expanding the activities of ‘Operation Sulaimani’, a scheme introduced in the district to provide free food to the poor, the district administration on Monday opened a new counter at the Kottapparamba Government Hospital for coordinating the distribution of free food coupons.
District Collector U.V. Jose inaugurated the counter. Hospital Superintendent Dr. K.C. Ramesh, Deputy Superintendent T. Mohandas, Resident Medical Officer M.M. Sucharitha and representatives of the Hotels and Restaurant Owners Association were present.
Project coordinators said the scheme, now operational in 13 different zones with 15 counters, had succeeded in distributing more than 80,000 free food coupons. More than 50 hotels in Kozhikode had already signed up with the initiative, they said.
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Within a few weeks, the free coupon distribution counters would be opened in Vadakara, Kuttiyadi and Balussery regions. Officials said trial runs had already been completed in these locations.
The project, launched under the Compassionate Kozhikode initiative two years ago, had attracted national and international attention by bagging several awards. It was one of the 75 initiatives listed for the 2016 World Responsible Tourism awards at World Travel Market.