Teynampet Free Meal Initiative Marks 750 Days With Special Feast For 2,500 People

A daily free meal initiative in Teynampet is set to mark its 750th consecutive day of non-stop operation on July 22. To celebrate this milestone, organizer D.M. Prakash is planning a special sit-down lunch event near Semmozhi Poonga, where volunteers will serve meals to 2,500 people.

For well over two years, the charity programme, known as annadanam, has run daily from Prakash's home in Teynampet. The initiative provides an average of 200 free food parcels every day to those in need. The service primarily helps local workers, including autorickshaw drivers, delivery personnel, frontline workers, and anyone facing hunger with limited financial means.

Prakash, who is an advocate, manages this marathon exercise with the support of his brother, D.M. Suresh, who is based in the United States. Suresh helps fund the initiative, which represents a significant expenditure and a major commitment for the duo.

The daily menu changes throughout the week to offer variety to the beneficiaries. The weekly cycle of meals includes vegetable biryani, coconut rice, lemon rice, pudhina rice, channa rice, and tomato rice.

To make the 750th day memorable, Prakash decided to shift the location of the daily annadanam away from his home to an area near Semmozhi Poonga. Instead of receiving the usual packaged food parcels, those who arrive for lunch will sit down and be served by waiting volunteers.

The event will feature Thousand Lights MLA and Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly J.C.D. Prabhakar. According to Prakash, the milestone programme will also mark the continuing birthday celebrations of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

Outside of the feeding programme, Prakash is the president of a group that brings socially aware members from the Vanniyar and Dalit communities together to work toward social change.