Pune: The Republican Akshay Bhojan Yojana is being run by Union Minister Dr Ramdas Athawale and his Pune team to reach out to the needy people of slums with help and food during the coronavirus lockdown.

Under this initiative, six satellite kitchens were set up in the city during the time of the pandemic, where over 5,300 people received food every day under the initiative and will continue to get it post-COVID-19 as well.

To help this mega plan to serve thousands every day, the team meticulously planned operations, food management, transport, police & administration permissions, volunteers, hygiene and safety, communication and coordination in and across Pune to make sure food reached to them in the utmost clean and hygienic manner.

"Six satellite kitchens were planned to make sure distance and time were maintained in all the zones of Pune in all directions, including east, west, north, and south and the central kitchen," said Sanee Awsarmmel, National President, National Union of Hospitality Industry of India (A National Unit of Republican Party of India – Athawale) who is heading the mega scheme and task in Pune.

Hospitality Industry of India – Pune Division was roped in with their best players who played the apt role of helping the plan to be more effective and prominent. The initiative started with mere 200 people which ultimately reached 5,300 people every day to various parts of the city of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad jurisdiction.

"The scheme will continue post-COVID with the plan to self-help, educate and empower the slum dwellers with right kind of information and education about standing on their own feet and make India more powerful and self-reliant on the lowest strata of the economy that is slums," added Awsarmmel.