For the past 2.5 years, the 42-year-old man has been serving free home-made food to around 200 people every day. While the entire cost is borne by him, sometimes he receives food grains from charity.
A food bank, run by a businessman, is satisfying the hunger of poor people arriving at the government-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi.
For the past 2.5 years, Vijay Pathak, 42, has been delivering free home-made food to around 200 people every day. While Pathak bears the entire cost, he sometimes receive food grains from charity.
Pathak and his wife established Roti Bank Ranchi on a small scale, preparing food for 15-20 people sleeping on the streets. When Pathak’s father was confined to RIMS for a month, the idea came to him. “My father was admitted to RIMS 16 years back. I saw many people sleeping on empty stomach as they did not have money to buy food. It was then I took a pledge that whenever I become capable, I will provide free food,” he says. Roti Bank Ranchi was launched on March 1, 2020, just before the pandemic outbreak.
Pathak says he never accepts money for the campaign. He believes that it will not serve the purpose as the money received from others could be misused. In order to maintain transparency, he puts distribution of food plates live on his Facebook page — Roti Bank Ranchi — on a daily basis.
“Each food plate costs around Rs.20, the cost of which is borne completely by me,” says Pathak, adding that sometimes people donate food grains.
Roti Bank Ranchi also collects and distributes prepared food from wedding parties and other ceremonial occasions.
Pathak has done an excellent job, according to Madhukar Shyam, who assists in the provision of food grains to Roti Bank Ranchi. “We strive to assist him as much as we can in this effort,” he says. Parvati Devi, who had travelled from Palamu for her husband’s treatment, was overjoyed at the complimentary food. “Roti Bank Ranchi has been feeding me for the past two days because I cannot afford the food at nearby hotels.”