As per the instruction of the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, hot and hygienic cooked food would be provided to all slum dwellers from Sunday morning for eight days, said the Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash. There are around 5.3 lakh families living in the slum areas with 26 lakh individuals. The initiative was to compensate for the loss of livelihood of the poorest residents of the city due to rains and COVID-19, commissioner added. 

“Food will be provided from Sunday morning to December 13 night. The Corporation machinery is in full swing to undertake this great service, which will be the largest community food service ever undertaken,” Prakash said. Food was provided to the people who had taken shelters during the incessant rain. Alongside, activists have asked the government to include other vulnerable sections of the population, who are affected due to COVID-19 lockdown and rains.

Venessa Peter, policy researcher of Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC), said homeless persons were more affected due to the incessant rains. “While some homeless dwellers took shelter at relief centres, several others are still on roads. Apart from them, poor people who had migrated to Chennai from other districts also suffered a lot. They do not even have ration cards. They should also be included in the programme,” she added. She suggested to set up a community kitchens at slum areas and employ local slum dwellers in cooking and distribution jobs, it will satisfy the hunger and also provides employment opportunity. 

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