NGO’s no-profit initiative brings relief to city’s working poor
Guwahati, May 15: In a city where even a basic vegetarian meal costs around ₹50, a quiet revolution is being served hot — and for just ₹5. Labourers, rickshaw pullers, and daily wage earners in Guwahati now have access to affordable, nutritious meals thanks to the NGO Wises and Blessings initiative.
Since January 28, the organisation has been dishing out nearly 500 meals a day from two bustling locations — Fancy Bazar and Kedar Road in Machkhowa — every Monday through Saturday. The meals include rice and a rotating vegetable curry, from chole and rajma to matar, providing sustenance and dignity in equal measure.
For tom-tom driver Muinul Hussain, this initiative is a godsend. “In hotels, it costs at least ₹100 to eat. But here, we get rice and vegetables for ₹5. It’s a big relief for people like us,” he said. Chattar Ali, another regular, agreed. “We work hard, but it’s not easy to afford ₹50-60 meals daily. This helps us survive,” he said.
The brain behind the project, Biren Hazarika, drew inspiration from a similar model in Delhi. “I met the food market director during a visit 4–5 months ago. With his guidance, we replicated the concept here. This is a no-profit initiative, just service,” he explained.
With two mobile food vans and a small team of 6–8 local workers, the meals are not just affordable but crafted with care. “We want to feed people with dignity, not pity,” said Hazarika.
As the cost of living climbs, this initiative is doing something rare — restoring faith and filling stomachs, one ₹5 plate at a time.
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