Notwithstanding sharp criticisms from the Opposition political parties, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday dedicated 79 more Aahar centres in the State, taking the total subsidised food centres in urban areas across Odisha to 100.
In the first phase of the populist scheme launched last year, at least 21 centres in urban locations of the State at Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur were supplying cooked food, comprising rice and dalma, at Rs.5 per plate.
Extending the low-cost lunch scheme to other urban pockets of the State, Mr. Patnaik dedicated the centres at a function at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here with an aim to provide at least 60,000 meals a day to urban poor people. “Looking at the success of the Aahar centres launched last year at five urban areas, the Government has decided to extend the scheme to other urban pockets of the State,” Mr. Patnaik said hoping that those visiting the urban areas will be immensely benefitted by it.
The scheme, which was running in only five districts, has now covered all the 30 districts of the State with opening of 79 more centres on Thursday, said Siba Shankar Sahoo, the nodal officer of the State Aahar Samiti. “The funds for each centre in a district are now being arranged by the District Collectors, who are designated as chairpersons of their respective District Aahar Samiti,” Mr. Sahoo added saying that each centre will distribute at least 500 or 1,000 meals every day between 12 noon to 3 pm looking at the local demands.
Terming the scheme as ‘politically motivated’, the Opposition BJP has criticised the ruling party for playing to the gallery keeping an eye on the forthcoming urban local body elections. “Instead of wasting time and money in the Aahar scheme, the government should work sincerely towards distributing ration cards under the National Food Security Act to all needy people,” said State BJP spokesman Sajjan Sharma.
The Opposition, Congress, too has criticised the ruling BJD saying the party is now making the Aahar a political tool because the NFSA scheme has actually punctured the Re.1-a-kg rice gimmick on which Naveen Patnaik was winning the elections till date. “When the urban people are suffering due to lack of potable water, the ruling party is harping on the Aahar scheme to divert attention and woo the people for the upcoming ULB elections,” said the State Congress spokesperson Ms. Sulochana Das.
PTI adds:
The scheme is being sponsored by the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, the Orissa Power Generation Corporation in Rourkela and the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation in Sambalpur. Tata Steel has been supporting the scheme in Berhampur while Adani in Bhadrak.
