Varanasi: A land of temples, Varanasi welcomes hundreds of pilgrims every day who spend days and nights in the city. Most of them do not get proper food and have to sleep empty stomach on the ghats.
With an aim to help such poor and needy people, Mohammad Mustafa from Varanasi launched a unique initiative 'Roti Bank' to feed the underprivileged. Mustafa, a railway officer, has been on a mission to provide food to poor and pilgrims for the last two years, a move that has garnered support from the locals.
Mustafa has been feeding poor people for free and feels that people's prayers are his greatest blessings.
Mustafa, along with his small team, collects food left in big fat weddings, big parties or any other large scale religious or social functions and distributes them among the needy. The food is distributed in various localities across the city and it is also made sure that the same food is not repeated.
"Nobody should sleep hungry," he says.
READ: Aligarh Muslim University set for centenary celebrations
Mustafa said, "We provide food to people at bus stops, railway stations and other places after collecting leftovers from various functions. My aides Raja Bhaiya and Kumar Swamy Bhatt assist me in my task. It is a satisfying feeling that people get food to eat. I launched Roti Bank initiative in 2018."
"We work 24*7. We make sure that stale food is not distributed. We also get calls from various event organisers in case food is left," he added.
Mustafa continued to do his bid during the coronavirus-induced lockdown as starvation continued to loom on their heads.
One of the locals appreciated his move and said that everybody can take up something like Roti Bank to help the poor people.
"The quality of food provided by Roti Bank is really good. I also donate Rs 500 or 1000 every month to help him," another local said.
