Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 3: A day after the state government announced introduction of Aahar economy meal for urban poor at `5 in five cities April 1, it drew flak from several quarters.
Questioning the timing of the move just before the notification of elections to the urban local bodies (ULBs) in Rourkela, Sambalpur and other notified area councils (NACs), the Congress Tuesday termed the move as a ‘political gameplan’.
Former Nabarangpur MP Pradip Majhi slammed the BJD government’s Aahar scheme as a ‘‘a political drama’’. “The offer of rice and dalma at `5 for the urban poor is meant to grab votes,” Majhi said adding, “Since polls to the civic bodies in Rourkela, Sambalpur and six NACs are round the corner, the government has done it to woo the
voters.”
Meanwhile, the BJP has alleged that the scheme is meant to retain the people as poor so that they depend on the government’s generosity.
Party leader Suresh Pujari said, “The scheme has no meaning at this point of time. This government wants people to remain in poverty. Instead of implementing schemes to help people become self-sufficient, it has been introducing schemes like `1 a kg rice, `5 a meal and similar schemes so that the people will continue to depend on it forever.”
“Efforts should be made to make Orissa free from poverty in the next five years.” he suggested.
Meanwhile, BJD spokesperson and former minister Rabi Narayan Nanda, refuted the allegations.
“This is a novel initiative to provide an affordable meal to the poor visiting the towns and cities. The Opposition should not play politics over such genuine issues, said the former minister.”
