The “controversial” low-cost lunch scheme for urban poor announced by Odisha government earlier this month would begin in Cuttack city from April. A tripartite agreement to this effect was inked between Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), Odiaha Mining Corporation and a private party (Touch Stone Foundation) at Bhubaneswar on Monday.
Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday CMC deputy mayor Ajay Barik said the scheme - christened as Aahar - would be opened at four places in the city where a plate of Rice and Dalma (a vegetable mix with pulses) would be available at Rs 5. “Initially, it is planned to prepare meals for 5000 people and the same would be available between 12 noon and 3 p.m.”, Mr. Barik said.
Sources said the actual meal would cost around Rs 20 but it would be subsidised with financial assistance from OMC, which is providing an assistance of Rs. 54.60 lakh for the first three months. The mining corporation would also make another payment of Rs. 60 lakh towards transportation and other expenses, sources said.
In Cuttack city, the Aahar would be available at two busy hospitals - SCB hospital and Sisu Bhawan and at Badambadi bus terminus and Malgodown.
The scheme however, came under flak from Congress and BJP. Both the opposite parties alleged that the low-cost meal is a cheap political gimmick of the ruling BJD, which has a dubious distinction of launching several schemes to catch the imagination of voters and stopping them midway.
