Bhubaneswar: The Housing and Urban Development department said Monday that the Aahaar centres located inside hospitals or near them in Odisha will remain open on all Sundays. The Housing and Urbanj Development department has directed the commissioner-cum-president of All City Aahaar Societies and Collector-cum-president of All District Aahaar Societies to take necessary steps for so that the Aahaar centres are kept open on Sundays.
“Need to appreciate that requests are coming from many quarters to open the Aahaar Kendras in or near hospitals on Sundays in order to facilitate the patients and attendants to get food in affordable price in the vicinity of hospitals,” an official issued by the Housing and Urban Development departments stated.
“Considering the difficulties of the patients and attendants coming to the hospitals, it is decided to keep open the Aahaar Kendras operating in or near hospitals on Sundays also,” the letter further said.
The department has also asked the concerned authorities to instruct Aahaar implementing partners and other stakeholders accordingly.
Currently there are 167 Aahaar centres functioning in the state. Among these, 82 are located inside hospital premises or close by. People can have quality food at these centres for only Rs 5. As these used to be closed on Sundays, relatives of patients used to face difficulties. Now however, the problem will be solved. Sources said that at an average these 82 Aahaar centres provide food to approximately 48,000 persons on a daily basis.