The Sasti Roti ki Dukan in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Dec. 27: The capital is finally sparing a thought for its vast multitudes of poor. Now they can have full dinner for just Rs 5.

The Lions’ Club of Ranchi has opened “sasti roti ki dukan” (shop of cheap chapattis) at Kutcheri.

The shop was inaugurated by chief minister Arjun Munda recently. The shop will offer dinner from 7 pm to 9.30 pm initially. However, the club proposes to offer lunch from next month. In that case the shop will remain open from 12 noon to 9.30 pm.

“We will see the response of the people before extending the hours,” said club chairperson Sanjay Seth. The dinner includes five chapattis, vegetable, pickles, salad and chilli, he added. “We have requested the superintendent of police to provide security as hooligans may create trouble at night,” he said.

The club officials have appointed two cooks and helpers. At present, there are two ovens but 8-10 gas burners will be installed later for better service.

Lions Club has donated Rs 50,000 for the project. A coupon would be given from the counter for dinner.

The district administration had given the land to Katchery Dukan Sahyog Samiti to run a food kiosk. But the samiti could not run it properly and so it was taken over by the Lions Club. According to Seth, there was no proposal to turn the shop into a commercial venture.

“We are not going to sell fast food, cold drinks or tea in the shop. Our purpose is to help the poor,” he said. Most of the businessmen are willing to purchase the coupon for the poor instead of giving them money.

“One person can collect as many coupons as he wants. It will help him with food. We would like people to co-operate with the venture so that the poor can benefit,” he said.