Thoothukudi Corporation dishes out Atchaya Pathiram

Atchaya Pathiram , which means a  vessel that never goes empty, is the first of its kind in Thoothukudi and had been inspired from other cities such as Chennai and Coimbatore. It has been installed in the main building of the Thoothukudi Corporation. 

Alby John Varghese, Commissioner, Thoothukudi Corporation, who dedicated the fridge to the needy, said that people started placing food items within minutes of its installation. The move prevents food from going waste and ending up in the dumpyard. 

Instead, such food comes to the aid of the hungry, he added.  The fridge was sponsored by a hyper market in Thoothukudi and the sponsors have promised to take care of its maintenance. 

One fridge has been placed on a pilot basis and based on the two-way response, they will install more such fridges in the four zonal offices of the Corporation. 

Officials said they have installed it at their office, so that the quality of food items could be directly monitored by them. Anything edible— from cooked food, fruits, vegetables, milk and juice — can be kept in the fridge and the project is banking on hotels, caterers and organisers of parties who have excess food and often waste them. 

People who want to prepare food for the needy and do not know where to find them could also contribute and leave the food in the refrigerator, said the Commissioner.  

Representatives of the hotel owners association of the district have also come forward to extend support to the project by diverting surplus food before they spoil. They said that they would be happy to do so, than dumping cooked food in the garbage bins.