A Meal for Re 1: A Hyderabad Group’s Mission to Feed the Hungry
In the busy city of Hyderabad, a group of kind-hearted people is making a big difference. The Padru Jain Yuva Sangathan, formed by 150 families from a small village in Rajasthan, provides meals to the needy for just Re 1 per meal.
These families originally came from Padru in Barmer district, Rajasthan, near the Pakistan border. They moved to Hyderabad for business but felt a strong desire to give back to the city that welcomed them. To help the underprivileged, the youth from these families started the Padru Jain Yuva Sangathan, focusing on essential needs like food, water, and medical aid.
How It All Started
In 2012, the group began by setting up drinking water camps across Hyderabad. Within a year, they had established eight camps. Seeing the impact of their work, they decided to expand their efforts. In 2013, they launched a food distribution drive called ‘Gareeb Rath’ to provide meals to the poor.
Helping the Right People
A key challenge was identifying those who truly needed help. “Many beggars get food, but not all poor people are beggars,” explained Bharat Jain, the group’s publicity secretary. To ensure their help reached the right people, they started distributing meals to hospital attenders—family members of patients who often struggle to afford food.
By charging just Re 1 per meal, they maintained the dignity of those receiving the food. Many well-wishers appreciated their efforts and often donated more than the token amount.
Expanding Their Mission
To keep the initiative running, the families took turns sponsoring meals, often in memory of their loved ones. During the COVID-19 lockdown, their efforts increased significantly, providing three meals a day to those in need.
Today, their kitchen in Begum Bazar prepares 200 meal packets daily. They also noticed that daily wage workers struggle to find food on Sundays when shops are closed. To help them, they introduced a special night meal distribution on Sundays.
Support from the Community
Many people now sponsor meals for special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. The cost of providing food for a day is Rs 6,500, which covers 200 meal packets and biscuits. Seeing the overwhelming support, the group now plans to offer medical insurance to the needy, starting with their own community and later expanding to others.
A Commitment to Service
The president of the group, Shravan Sanklecha, emphasized their mission: “Our main goal is to provide drinking water to the thirsty and food to the hungry. We will always be ready to help.”
This initiative is made possible by dedicated volunteers, fondly called ‘Morning Heroes’, including Praveen Dheldiya, Suresh Sanklecha, Lalit Bafna, Manakchand, Raju Khatri, Santosh Dheldiya, Bharat Mardiya, Bharat Balad, Mukesh Balad, and Bharat Kataria.
Through their selfless efforts, the Padru Jain Yuva Sangathan continues to bring hope and nourishment to those in need, proving that even a small act of kindness can make a big difference.
