Faith as Infrastructure - How Religious Institutions Power India
Mayank Singhal
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🛕 Temples don't just serve God.
They serve 100 million Indians - daily.
From langars to ₹10 sabjis, India's real welfare isn't run by the state.
It's run by faith.
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The Golden Temple in Amritsar feeds 100,000 people every single day.
No ticket.
No income proof.
No subsidy.
Just stainless steel plates and pure operations.
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Gurudwaras became India's emergency kitchens during COVID.
Police, migrant workers, slum dwellers - all fed without a form.
No OTP. No app. Just roti and warmth.
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Temples offer water.
Shelter.
Shade.
Sometimes even free medical camps.
They don't call it "service delivery."
They just call it "seva."
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Chennai's Amma Canteens serve full meals for ₹10.
Inspired by temple kitchens.
No margin. No upsell. No branding.
Just the belief that food = dignity.
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India has no universal meal scheme for adults.
But temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras?
They've been running one for centuries.
Decentralized. Local. Human.
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Faith institutions don't just preach.
They:
– Feed cities
– Employ workers
– Host relief camps
– Provide mental and social safety
In India, faith is infrastructure.
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We always ask: "Why isn't the government doing more?"
But here's the real question:
If a gurudwara can serve 100,000 daily -
what's stopping the state?