A group of Katras residents led by a young BCCL officer, Dev Kumar Verma, are running a free night food service for the street dwellers of the town.

The night food service programme is aimed at helping a large number of people whose income has been adversely affected due to the pandemic induced recession and closure of different industrials units and offices.

The food is being distributed under the ni shulk bhojan vitran programme of Lions Club Katras outside the premises of Katras Railway station from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

Talking to The Telegraph Online today Verma who also operates three schools in Katras to impart free of cost education to coal picker children said, “As around 50-60 street dwellers live in the surrounding areas of Katras railway station so the food distribution is being carried out near the station where needy people from surrounding areas like Katras Bazar also visit to avail the benefit of free food.”

“Large majority of station vendors besides rickshaw pullers, other daily wage earners deprived of day’s income and beggars are the major beneficiaries of our food distribution programme,” said Verma.

“The food menu keeps changing on different days ranging from puri-sabji to chawal dal sabji and some times of puri sabji khir,” said Verma.

The night food service launched by them is an extension of free food distribution programme carried out last year in Katras.

“The food distribution during the night is most suitable time to reach the real beneficiaries as majority of daily wage earners, rickshaw pullers and porters remain away on work during the day time and return back to their place during the night, so maximum people can take benefit,” said Verma.

Dr Sudharshan Kumar a renowned physician of Katras who is chairperson services of Lions club of Katras and takes active part in free night food service said,“ When we started the drive on July 1 there were only 40-50 beneficiaries but as the information spread we now distribute more than 100 packets on a daily basis for which a cost of Rs 2,000 is incurred per day.”

Three professional cooks prepare the food at a rented kitchen near Swastik Talkies Cinema Hall of Katras.

“Besides the beneficiaries, the number of donors for night food service programme has also increased as many people celebrate their birth, marriage day etc by sponsoring the special foods cooked on the day,” said Kumar.