Roti Bank in Patna

A social activist in Patna has launched the first Roti Bank in the State which is scheduled to start on the 15^th of June 2017.  The concept of Roti Banks is spreading rapidly and this noble venture should soon have its presence throughout the country.  

How many Roti Banks are established in India?

The first Roti bank was established in Mahoba, Bundelkhand in 2015. This concept slowly caught pace and had been established on similar lines in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Even the Dabbawalas in Mumbai operate a Roti Bank during their free time to help and feed the homeless. 

Analysis

The working of a Roti Bank is systematic where freshly cooked rotis are served to the poor, sick or the unemployed people along with a vegetarian or non-vegetarian dish. Here, people are asked to fill up a form for membership after which a code is provided to them.  Any case of food poisoning can be tracked back to the donor using this code number. They can deposit food anytime during the day and the quality of the food is checked before it is dispatched to the needy. Strict regulations on the quality of food have ensured minimal cases of stale food being deposited. Food preservation is done in huge freezers at the Roti Bank. Food is delivered at all places where those deprived of meals are found such as hospitals, footpaths, railway stations, etc. 

Assessment

The establishment of this institution may be seen as a positive initiative as it would prevent massive wastage of food, especially at weddings, hotels and social gatherings where the excess food is usually binned.  It would ensure that nobody would starve of hunger, which is the most extreme form of malnutrition that can cause permanent organ damage and eventually death.  

A dedicated task force team will be required as it is a voluntary organization and its effectiveness may come down after a certain point of time, as seen in the case of NGO’s. Also, those to whom the food is delivered may rely on it as a permanent source which would dissuade them to work towards earning it or it may compel them to use that money for wrong doings. However, the initial investment along with the day to day expenses has to be borne by the entrepreneur which in future could turn into a problem. If Roti Banks receive the support of the government, they can work on a much larger scale with more efficient technology and mechanism.