Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: After successful implementation of Aahar scheme in five corporations, the state government has decided to roll out the populist ‘Rs 5 meal’ scheme to 50 more towns in the state by February, 2016.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed his officials to implement the scheme in 58 centres of 50 cities by February 2016,” an official of H&UD department said.
“The direction has been issued by the CM to all collectors during a video conference at secretariat Tuesday,” he added.
The State government had launched the ‘Aahar’ scheme providing subsidised food to the urban poor in cities Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Rourkela from April 1 this year.
The subsidised food programme, aimed at providing meals at `5 to people thronging different towns/cities, has been catering to the needs of 22,000 people across 21 centres
Despite financial strain, the state government has decided to engage state PSUs to fund the scheme. Sources said, currently the scheme is 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 Steels has been supporting the scheme in Berhampur, official sources added.
Officials said the state
government may approach more private stakeholders to sponsor the scheme as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
