Khera, Reetika creator text Economic & Political Weekly monographic eng

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61(21), May 23, 2026: p.41-48 Public canteens that provide subsidised meals have emerged as a critical food security measure in urban India. A survey of over 700 guests in Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu finds that public canteens guarantee food security for vulnerable people, such as the elderly and destitute, as well as those without cooking facilities (single working men, students). One-fourth of the respondents consumed both meals daily at canteens and saved a third of their reported monthly earnings. Canteens have also created decent jobs, especially for women, reduced domestic work and fostered a sense of oneness and well-being in otherwise alienating urban environments.- Reproduced https://www.epw.in/journal/2026/21/special-articles/what-cooking.html Economic & Political Weekly 260615