CM Naveen Patnaik extends cheap meal programme "Aahar" to all districts

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated opening of 100 more Aahar centres across the state as part of state government's cheap meal programme for the poor.

Patnaik dedicated the 100 Aahar centres to the public at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Cittack city.

"Now the Aahar programme is extended to all the districts of the state. Above 60,000 people visiting urban pockets of the state will get cheap meals," Patnaik said.

Stating that the state capital of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will get additional five and four Aahar centres each, Patnaik asked officials to ensure hygenic food and sanitation at such centres.

The state government had last year launched the first phase of Aahar Yojana on April 1 in 2015 in which 21 centres were opened in Bhubneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela. The programme was extended in view of the success of 21 centres in seven urban pockets of the state.

The scheme is now being sponsored by Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) in Rourkela and Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) in Sambalpur. Tata Steel has been supporting the scheme in Berhampur while Adani in Bhadrak.

The companies, both in government sector and private, used to assist the programme from their corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund.

Under the Aahar programme, the beneficiaries are provided rice and dalma at a price of Rs 5 only in urban pockets. The poor people visiting urban pockets for different works can avail the facility just by paying Rs 5 per meal. The Aahar centres remain open from 11 am to 3 pm for six days a week except Sunday at specific locations like bus stand, railway station, government hospital and other public places mostly visited by the poor people.