PARADIP: As part of the Government’s programme to commission 100 Aahar centres across the State, two subsidised meal centres were launched in Paradip and Jagatsinghpur towns on Thursday.
The district administration has formed district Aahar Committee under the chairmanship of Collector Bijay Ketan Upadhaya for the purpose. The administration has asked Paradip Port Trust, Paradip Phosphates Limited, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, Indian Oil Corporation and Essar to contribute `25 lakh from CSR activities towards Aahar scheme. Nearly, 1,500 poor people can avail the benefits of the scheme.
Chairman, District Planning Committee and MLA Prasant Muduli launched the scheme at District Headquarters Hospital at Jagatsinghpur, while
MP Kulamani Samal inaugurated the centre at Paradip bus stand and Biju Memorial Hospital.
Angul: The first Aahar centre in Angul was opened at bus stand on Thursday. Pallahara MLA and president of District Planning Board Mahesh Sahu, Collector Anil Kumar Samal and SP Rajesh Pandit attended.
Sahu called upon all the industries to contribute for the programme as part of its CSR activity and make it a success.
The centre has a capacity to provide food to 500 people per day. The centre at Talcher Government Medical will have the capacity to feed 250 people per day, the Collector said.
Rural Development Minister Badri Narayan Patra is scheduled to inaugurate an Aahar centre at Talcher.
Phulbani: Two Aahar centres were inaugurated by Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat at District Headquarters Hospital campus and bus stand. As many as 500 persons can have subsidised food at each centre. Maa Mangala SHG has been entrusted with the task of running the centres. Executive Officer, Municipality and nodal officer of the Aahar programme Radhamohan Behera said, “Members of the SHG group have been given seven-day training at Berhampur to run the centres.” Collector Yamini Sarangi said CCTV cameras have been installed at both the centres for surveillance. On Friday, another centre will be opened on the campus of Baliguda Hospital.
Bhawanipatna: Aahar was launched at four urban centres of Bhawanipatna, Kesinga, Junagarh and Dharamgarh. While Bhawanipatna and Kesinga Aahar centres will cater to 500 persons each, Junagarh and Dharamgarh centres will provide food to 300 persons each. Food will be transported to other centres from the centralised cooking facility at Bhawanipatna.
CCTV Cameras Installed
Berhampur: After successful launching of Aahar centres at four places in the Silk City, two more centres were inaugurated on Friday. The two new centres near City Hospital and Aska Road will provide food to 500 persons per day. The four centres at railway station, new bus stand, old bus stand and at MKCG campus have been serving 100 persons per day. Manna Trust, the agency which is entrusted to supply MDM in the city and adjoining areas, has been supplying cooked food to the centres in the city, said BeMC Commissioner and Manager for Aahar scheme in Ganjam district. Six such centres at Bhanjanagar, Aska, Hinjili, Chhatrapur, Digapahandi and Gopalpur were also opened on Thursday. CCTV cameras have been installed at the centres and supply of cold water has been ensured, he added. Meanwhile, several social organisations have urged the district administration to enhance the capacity of the centres to 10,000 and open one such centre near BeMC office. They argued that over 70,000 persons visit the city everyday for work but the provision is only for 5,000 persons.