83 littis, 30 chapatis, five plate rice: A migrant worker's diet at quarantine centre forced cooks to prepare food for at least ten more persons

PATNA/BUXAR: Eighty three littis, 30-35 chapatis in dinner or at least five plate rice at a time- this was the diet of a migrant worker Anup Ojha which left the staff and cooks gaping at quarantine centre in Majhwari panchayat under Simri block of Buxar district as they had to cook additional food which was enough to feed at-least 12 to 15 persons.

Anup’s diet has now become a topic of discussion among the officials as well as villagers in several panchayats in Buxar. Anup was out under quarantine after returning from Rajashthan.

Simri block development officer Ajay Kumar Singh while talking to TOI over phone on Friday said that Anup’s matter came to light before them when Majhwari panchayat mukhiya Pramod Kumar Gupta and neighbouring Kharah Tand mukhiya Munna Ojha came to discuss some issues with him.

"Kharah Tand mukhiya urged me that his quarantine centre was empty and migrant workers from nearby areas be kept there," he said.

Singh said that it was then Gupta suggested Ojha that he may take away Anup from his quarantine centre as he alone consumed food which can feed 12-15 persons. “Anup is from Kharah Tand only," he said.

"On request of migrant workers, litti-choka was cooked as dinner instead of regular food plan. That day Anup alone consumed 83 littis before us leaving," Singh said.

He said Anup, age around 22 years and strong body physique, was quarantined on May 14 and was released from quarantine centre two day back.

"While normal person can eat a partially filled plate of rice in dinner, Anup used to have at least five to six plate full of rice in dinner. His normal diet is of 30-35 chapatis at a time along with vegetable in same ratio," BDO said adding he himself had inspected the quarantine centre after the matter came to light.

Quoting Anup, Singh said that he had ate 100 samosa after friends had challenged him once and the diet was normal for him.

"For Anup, extra food was cooked at the quarantine centre and directions were issued that he be provided with the quantity of food required to fulfil his hunger," BDO said.

Meanwhile, Majhwari panchayat mukhiya Gupta said that Anup ate 53 chapatis before him in dinner. "On that he asked that we may cook litti if possible as he can still eat 70 of them. His breakfast was equivalent to what could feed 4-5 persons," he said.

He said that incidentally Anup’s diet was reason virtually due to which his family members chased him away from home so that he bears expenses for food on his own. "Now he is famous across country for his diet only," he said.

"Just after two days that Anup reached Bhiwari, lockdown got enforce. He consumed food worth Rs 18000 of his owner where he had just started to work before returning back," he said

"We had big nine rooms at quarantine centre occupying 82 migrant workers. We started serving food from room number one in order to maintain social distancing. Anup continued to eat even after occupants of last room had finishes their food," he said adding now only 37 migrant workers were left.

"We faced problem for first two days. Later we adjusted by starting to cook extra so that Anup’s hunger is filled. Such was the situation that even after having lunch by 12noon, he got hungry again by 2.30pm and finished up whatever remaining food was left," mukhiya said.

He said centre staffs started keeping extra rice, vegetable and food items looking at situation as Anup used to start crying by then that he would give away his life if didn’t served with food again.