Gujarat adds 101 Shramik Annapurna centres, daily meals to hit 45,000 across 28 districts
Synopsis
Gujarat's Shramik Annapurna Yojana is adding 101 new centres in a single day — its biggest expansion yet — taking daily meal coverage for construction workers from 35,000 to 45,000 across 28 districts, with CM Bhupendra Patel personally inaugurating the Ahmedabad centre and serving meals to workers on October 16.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat will open 101 new Shramik Annapurna centres across 28 districts on 16 October 2026 .
Daily meal distribution will rise by 10,000 , reaching approximately 45,000 meals per day.
Total centres under the scheme will grow to 372 with this expansion.
Meals are provided at ₹5 per person , covering rotis, vegetables, pulses, rice, and weekly sweets.
The scheme has distributed more than 5 crore meals in total, including 27 lakh directly at construction sites.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate the Ahmedabad centre and serve meals to workers.
Gujarat will launch 101 new food distribution centres for construction workers across 28 districts on 16 October 2026, expanding the state government's Shramik Annapurna Yojana to serve approximately 45,000 people daily — up from the current average of more than 35,000. The addition will bring the total number of centres operating under the scheme to 372, marking the scheme's largest single-day expansion to date.
Inauguration and Key Events
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate a new Shramik Annapurna Centre at Chanakyapuri, Ahmedabad, on 16 October. He is also scheduled to serve meals to workers as part of a voluntary service activity and interact with them directly. Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Members of the Legislative Assembly will simultaneously inaugurate centres at various locations across the state.
What the Scheme Offers
Under the Shramik Annapurna Yojana, cooked meals are provided to construction workers and their family members at ₹5 per person. Each meal includes rotis, vegetables, pulses, rice, pickle, chillies, and jaggery. Sweets such as sukhdi and sheera are served once a week. More than 5 crore meals have been distributed under the scheme so far, according to the state's Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department.
On-Site Meal Delivery
Beyond fixed centres, the scheme also provides meal delivery directly to construction sites where more than 50 workers wish to avail themselves of the facility. This supplements permanent centres located at construction labour points and is designed to reach workers who may find it difficult to visit a distribution site. Approximately 27 lakh meals have been distributed at construction sites under this arrangement, the department said.
Scale and Impact
The opening of the 101 additional centres is expected to increase daily meal distribution by 10,000, raising the total to around 45,000 meals a day. Construction workers form a significant part of Gujarat's workforce, and the scheme directly addresses food security and daily expenditure for this demographic. This expansion is part of the state government's broader effort to extend subsidised nutrition services to workers and their families across the state's rapidly growing construction sector.
With the new centres set to go live on Friday, the Shramik Annapurna Yojana's reach now spans every district where large-scale construction activity is underway — and its cumulative milestone of over five crore meals signals a scheme that has moved well beyond pilot scale.
Point of View
But the ₹5 per meal price point — unchanged as food inflation has risen — deserves scrutiny for long-term fiscal sustainability. Reaching 45,000 workers daily out of Gujarat's estimated lakhs of active construction labourers still leaves a significant coverage gap. The on-site delivery model for worksites with 50-plus workers is pragmatic, but its uptake data suggests it remains underutilised relative to fixed centres. A credible next step would be linking the scheme's scale to independent nutritional outcome tracking, not just meal-count milestones.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shramik Annapurna Yojana in Gujarat?
The Shramik Annapurna Yojana is a Gujarat state government scheme that provides cooked meals to construction workers and their families at ₹5 per person. Implemented by the Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department, the scheme has distributed more than 5 crore meals since its launch.
How many new centres is Gujarat opening under the scheme?
Gujarat is opening 101 new food distribution centres on 16 October 2026, spread across 28 districts. This brings the total number of Shramik Annapurna centres to 372 statewide.
How will the expansion affect daily meal coverage?
The addition of 101 centres is expected to increase daily meal distribution by 10,000, raising total daily coverage from more than 35,000 to approximately 45,000 people.
What food is served under the Shramik Annapurna Yojana?
Each meal includes rotis, vegetables, pulses, rice, pickle, chillies, and jaggery. Sweets such as sukhdi and sheera are also provided once a week as part of the menu.
Can construction workers receive meals at their work sites?
Yes. The scheme provides direct meal delivery to construction sites where more than 50 workers wish to use the facility. Approximately 27 lakh meals have been distributed at construction sites under this arrangement so far.
