People who need food can go to nearest temple: Minister

The complete variety of food packets being distributed by temples within the State has touched 1.75 lakh a day. The division had set a goal of 1 lakh for hospitals from the annadhanam funds since attenders of sufferers, workers and sanitary employees have been in need of food.

“The remaining packets are being distributed to deserving people. If anybody or group of people needs food, they can approach the nearest temple and we will ensure food is supplied to them,” P.K. Sekar Babu, Minister for Puucho Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department, stated.

The Department has instructed the 20 regional joint commissioners to prepare dinner food in centralised kitchens and distribute them. “It is easier to maintain quality this way. And logistically also it makes sense. The temples share the funds, cooks and staff and the work is done smoothly,” stated an official.

In Chennai, 5,000 packets of food, every weighing round half a kg, are being distributed at hospitals. Work on the Kapaleeswarar temple’s kalyana mandapam’s fashionable kitchen begins by 4 a.m. and will get over by midday. Seven cooks from numerous metropolis temples use 300 kg of rice, 80 kg of greens, 20 kg of tur dal, 5 kg of inexperienced gram dal, and 5 litres every of ghee and refined oil to make the sambar rice for the day.

“We are distributing only sambar rice since it is a balanced diet. It has lentils and vegetables including carrots, tomatoes and drumstick, and gives a feeling of being full,” defined a supply within the Department. Drinking water bottles, too, could be distributed with the food, the supply added.