Taking inspiration from Gurudwaras across Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, offering langars, to feed mass migrants and homeless covering miles on foot from big cities to their respective villages, amid nationwide lockdown, in light of COVID-19, some high profile restaurateurs, have also come forward to offer free meals to the needy. By Tanvi Jain
1. Zorawar Kalra, Massive Restaurants Pvt Ltd
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Renowned restaurateur and T+L India’s A-List member Zorawar Kalra’s Massive Restaurants that owns famous fine dining options such as Masala Library, Pa Pa Ya, Farzi Café and Made in Punjab, has offered to cook and distribute meals to the needy.
Kalra has reportedly confirmed that the group aims to distribute at least 4,000 to 5,000 meals per day across Gurugram and Mumbai. Further adding that the same operations are likely to start in cities like New Delhi and Bengaluru.
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Reports also suggest that the meals, which will be cooked by the group’s kitchen staff at the restaurants will be handed over to the authorities for further distribution. Moreover, the staff has reportedly volunteered to take out their private vehicles to facilitate the delivery.
The menu comprises of nutritious meals such as rajma chawal, khichdi and chole chawal. Moreover, Kalra is also in talks with the concerned authorities for an arrangement of passes, in order to speed up the distribution process.
2. Riyaaz Amlani, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.
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The National Restaurant Association of India recently tweeted, “Requesting all to come forward and contribute for a noble cause! Every bit counts! #FeedTheNeedy #NRAI #DonateNow #StayHomeIndia #COVID2019india #Lockdown.
Retweeting the post, Mumbai based restaurateur, CEO and MD of Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt Ltd, and NRAI’s former president, Riyaaz Amlani added, “We are facing a humanitarian crisis. Lakhs of workers today have no access to food. NRAI India member restaurants are opening up their kitchens to prepare meals for the poor and hungry,” also sharing the link on Instagram as well.
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The NRAI had earlier this month, sent out an advisory to its 6,000 member restaurants to ‘shut down their restaurant’s operations from March 18 till March 31, 2020, or until no new cases are reported, for few days.
Moreover, Pune Restaurant and Hoteliers Association (Praha) has also appealed to its 850 member hoteliers to keep their kitchens open for deliveries.
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Further, food delivery giants like Zomato, Swiggy and Rebel Foods have reached out to multiple state governments to deliver essential goods such as groceries and medicines at one’s doorstep; and to also donate free meals to migrant workers. “To further streamline delivery of essentials & groceries in Punjab, we have tied up with @Zomato. We are hopeful of operationalising it very shortly,” tweeted Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
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Earlier, various Sikh groups such as Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC), and The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DGMC), had offered to provide meals and Serai (Inn), to the homeless.
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