Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and former vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday inaugurated 25 Atal canteens across the capital on the eighth death anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The new outlets, launched via remote control, include canteens outside hospitals such as AIIMS and LNJP, and in slum clusters in Janakpuri, Vikaspuri and other parts of the city.

She said the canteens provide meals at Rs 5 a plate to one lakh needy people every day, including slum residents, daily wagers, construction workers and others, with the government aiming to serve 3.65 crore meals in a year under the principle of ‘Antyodaya’.

Speaking at the launch, Naidu described the initiative as a commendable step to provide affordable and nutritious food to the poor, slum dwellers, labourers and people coming to Delhi in search of work. He also congratulated the Delhi government for meeting its target of operationalising 100 Atal canteens on Vajpayee’s death anniversary.