BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu feeding needy through Modi Kitchens initiative

Heeding call by party chief J P Nadda to reach out to poor during ongoing lockdown, various BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu are feeding many needy through 'Modi Kitchens' initiative.

state's first Modi kitchen was launched on March 30 in Coimbatore by party's state general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan and it caters to about 500 people. Senior party leader and former MP C P Radhakrishnan keeps alive two kitchens in Coimbatore and Tiruppur in western Tamil Nadu to feed 1,000 persons totally, while Meena Dev runs a similar kitchen in Nrcoil to provide food to 500 individuals daily.

"Our party leader (Nadda) has asked us to take care of poor, especially those who can't afford ir daily meals. So, depending on our individual resources, we have pooled in manpower and sourced groceries to prepare food through Modi kitchens and deliver it at people's doorsteps," Radhakrishnan told PTI.

joy of M V Sasidharan, BJP's Tiruvallur district general secretary knew bounds when Nadda called him two days ago to enquire about his well-being. "Are you safe? Is your family safe?" BJP chief enquired about Sasidharan, one of many party functionaries who are operating Modi Kitchens.

In his district neighbouring Chennai, Sasidharan was instrumental in setting up 13 such kitchens. "Naddaji asked all of us to help people without risking our lives," he said, adding " very question of our survival is at stake. We should ensure coronavirus doesn't spread."

beneficiaries of initiative are happy that ruling party at Centre is reaching out to m in such difficult times. Kans Ram, a construction worker stranded in Maduravoyal near city, said BJP functionaries initially gave m cooked food, but on request later provided dry ration.

"We sought rice and vegetables as we have facilities to cook. y (BJP members) were t rigid. y obliged and gave us rice bags, onion, tomatoes and potatoes for us to cook our own food," he said.

w y have five days' stock to man. Gomathy, a small-time flower vendor in Velachery said: "With business and money to buy rice, Modi kitchen has enabled my family of three to get decent food daily."

party even responded to a request from an attendant at a hospital on Egmore High Road. "As I could t step out of hospital leaving my far alone, I requested help from local BJP members, who responded by delivering us food," said Krishnan.

Besides Modi Kitchen, Tamil Nadu government's flagship Amma Canteens, low-cost eateries catering to needy and poor, have turned out to be much sought after ones. highly subsidised Amma Canteens, run by civic bodies, have been receiving a steady trickle of high profile visitors in recent days, including Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

Chief Minister visited a canteen here and tasted food to instill confidence among people that fare provided through canteens are hygienic, prompting his cabinet colleagues to follow suit and visit eateries in ir respective constituencies.

State ministers visited Amma Canteens to encour people to buy subsidised food, as restaurants and hotels have also been closed due to curfew.