Good news for the needy! Free food 365 days a year

No criteria or eligibility required, says Dr Padte

| JUNE 09, 2019, 02:02 AM IST

the goan I network

PANAJI

“Niradhar Shidha Tiffin Service” (NSTS), a tiffin service based in the capital city provides a tiffin on a daily basis to anyone who is needy, helpless and does not have access to food. Members of “One World”, the organisation that runs the service on Saturday urged anyone who needed the benefit of the service to come forward and avail of it.   

Started almost a year ago on August 18, 2018, the service was started by a group of working professionals headed by Dr Kedar Padte, to try and eradicate hunger in the capital city. Addressing the press, Padte explained that the idea to start a free tiffin service for the needy arose last year when a WhatsApp video was forwarded to him showing a Mumbai-based doctor Uday Modi who had started a service of the kind in Mumbai. Padte, whose organisation was already involved in several social campaigns, decided to start this service as well. Other members who volunteer for the free tiffin service are Madhavi Kamat, Deepashree Bharne D’Melo, Vishvesh and Shreya Gaunekar, Suraj and Rekha Kande, and Gaurav and Durga Velingkar.   

Dr Padte explained that there was no criteria or eligibility required to come forward and ask for the service, and that the service as of 

now was being provided to 17 people in Panaji. He said that “One World” would provide the service to anyone irrespective of age, religion, caste, class, sex, political affiliation and any other man-made boundary. He said that the organisation doesn’t mind if the person comes from a family who has money, but does not have access to food, s/he will still be provided with the tiffin without judgement. Those who cannot look after themselves and do not have support from anyone can also come forward.   

Once the person approaches the organisation, housed in the Panjim market, an NSTS member visits the beneficiary to ascertain the person is indeed needy. A consent form is then obtained from the beneficiary, and their identity is not disclosed to anyone, so that no one feels ashamed or embarrassed about having to come forward and ask for food. 

Members also explained that the food, provided in steel dabbas, was a substantial amount and could last one person for two meals. Every day, volunteers collect the previous day’s empty dabba and provide the beneficiary with a full dabba. The food is home-made. Besides eradicating hunger in Panaji, Bambolim, and Caranzalem through the service, “One World” hopes to inspire anyone from any other part of Goa to start a service of the kind.   

If you know anyone who is in need of the service, you can visit the NSTS services at Citadel Building, first floor, opposite Mayo Medico, Panjim market.   

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