Nobody will have to go hungry in Kozhikode from Sunday, so says Operation Sulaimani, the district administration’s project for a hunger-free city.
The project, being implemented in association with the Kerala Hotel and Restaurants Association (KHRA), will be launched on Sunday by Minister for Social Justice and Panchayats M.K. Muneer. KHRA president Sumesh Govind will preside over the inaugural function to be held at Tagore Centenary Hall at 5 p.m.
As of now, several voluntary organisations are providing sponsored meals for the hungry at various restaurants in the city. But it rarely reaches those who truly deserve it.
This is mainly because those in need find it humiliating to beg for food and stand in queues to obtain it.
On the other hand, the facility is misused by drunkards and vested interests.
Operation Sulaimani has been designed on the lines of ‘pending coffee’ and ‘food for the wall’ systems prevalent in many foreign countries.
Those who take food at restaurants can sponsor a meal or two as well. The number of pending meals will be displayed at the hotel reception, which can be claimed by deserving people.
Some hotels have also agreed to put up ‘food for the wall,’ where food is kept for anyone to use.
The project is implemented through offices under the district administration.
Food coupons will be distributed to the deserving through village offices. The public has been urged to be vigilant to make sure that undeserving people do not procure the coupons. In the first phase, the project is restricted to hotels in the city limits.
The name Operation Sulaimani comes from the movie Ustad Hotel that tells the tale of a man who takes pleasure in feeding the hungry.
Anjali Menon, who scripted the movie, will be the chief guest at the inaugural function of the project.
Launch of ‘Operation Sulaimani’ in Kozhikode today.
