Manoj is happy with the martyr Veer Narayan Singh labor food scheme

The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Shramik Anna Yojana provides nutritious meals to around 94,000 labourers on a monthly basis, addressing hunger and poverty among the migrant population. It played a key role in boosting Manoj’s resilience, hope and feelings of empowerment. The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Shramik Anna Yojana has played a key role in breaking the cycle of hunger and promoting food security for many migrant workers. For Manoj, it has helped him save more for his children’s education and rekindled his desire to lead a happy married life.

Manoj heaved a sigh of relief when he found out about subsidised meals at Rs 5 under the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Shramik Anna Yojana. Manoj Khute has a faraway contemplative look in his eyes. He carefully loads his plate with food and settles down to eat, remembering that earlier his family was into farming and everyone ate at home. Gradually, declining groundwater levels, sudden climate change and rising energy costs forced Manoj, a small landholder from the Scheduled Caste community, out of farming. As Manoj’s children grew up, he realised he did not have enough savings to plan for the education of his two daughters and later their marriage. The only solution he had was to move to Raipur, a nearby big city, and find a good job. Manoj worked as a security guard and bought a uniform and whistle in exchange for his farm equipment.

The rapid migration from rural areas to urban areas for livelihood is one of the most significant demographic changes in the world today. People from rural areas across the world have been forced to migrate for livelihood. According to HDS (2011-2013), 0.19 million people have migrated from rural areas to urban areas in Chhattisgarh. An invisible impact of uncontrolled migration is food insecurity that forces economically insecure migrants to adopt unhealthy behaviours.

As a security guard, Manoj earned Rs 12,000 per month but a large part of his earnings was spent on housing and food. During such financial pressures, subsidised food can significantly help tackle food insecurity and make nutritious food accessible to the large urban poor population employed in precarious conditions. In response, UNDP has supported programmes such as Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Shram Anna in collaboration with the Department of Labour in Chhattisgarh. The scheme’s base kitchens in over seven districts and food distribution centres in over 20 locations provide nutritious food to around 94,000 labourers every month, alleviating hunger and poverty among the migrant population. Meals are served once a day in both industrial and non-industrial areas, where workers can get food at a subsidised rate of Rs 5.