Nourishing hopes, one meal at a time

Launched with the objective of ensuring food security for the needy, Sanjhi Rasoi — a community kitchen initiative by the Red Cross Society of Hoshiarpur provides meals to approximately 500 to 550 persons every day with the help of donations and financial support from local people.

Launched in 2017, Sanjhi Rasoi is the only surviving community kitchen of its kind in Punjab, which is serving nutritious meals to everyone at a nominal cost of Rs 10. Running under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Chairperson of Hoshiarpur’s Red Cross Society, Aashika Jain, this initiative has grown into a symbol of dignity and sustenance with an annual budget of Rs 34 lakh serving more than 1.5 lakh people in a year.

Sanjhi Rasoi runs on the basis of the values of dignity, empathy and community spirit, serving as a model of how a community’s smaller contributions can create a lasting impact.

Sanjhi Rasoi started with a mission to ensure that no one in Hoshiarpur stays hungry just because they cannot afford a meal. It serves nutritious vegetarian meals to everyone who comes to relish it. People from labourers, daily wagers, street vendors, workers of various business establishments etc can be seen having their lunch at Sanjhi Rasoi, sitting or standing together in an air conditioned hall.

“Book a Day”, is a unique initiative to attract the community to contribute to this noble cause. Under this initiative, anyone can sponsor a day’s meal service at Sanjhi Rasoi to celebrate or observe their special days or commemorate it to their loved ones. With a minimum contribution of Rs 5,100, the day’s food can be sponsored and the Sanjhi Rasoi displays that the particular day was sponsored by whom. Normally dal, vegetable, rice, chapati, salad and pickle is served in the meal, but the contributors often add some items like fruits or desserts on their own. If anyone books a day to celebrate a birthday or anniversary at Sanjhi Rasoi, the day is celebrated there by cutting the cake provided by the Sanjhi Rasoi. Red Cross Secretary Mangesh Sood told The Tribune, “Citizens commemorate special days — such as birthdays, anniversaries or the remembrance of loved ones. The list of bookings has grown so long that we already have more contributors than the number of days in a year”.

Mangesh said that a team of six employed women was responsible for preparing the daily lunch while the Red Cross team and volunteers share a hand with them to serve and ensure that every meal meets high standards of taste, nutrition and cleanliness.

He said the Sanjhi Rasoi not only serves food but to do so in a comfortable and organised environment in a fully air-conditioned dining hall having a seating capacity of 200 people, a Celebration Room with a capacity of 20, allowing contributors and families to participate in the day’s service. Sanjhi Rasoi was turning simple meals into meaningful gestures with efforts of the Red Cross Hoshiarpur, not just filling stomachs — but touching hearts and souls.

Punjab