Bhubaneswar: Aahaar scheme will continue in the state as it serves the common man’s interest, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said Thursday. Mahapatra paid a surprise visit to Aahaar centre at Capital Hospital premises.
On this occasion, he bought a coupon and ate the meal alongside the people. He engaged with diners, asking them about the quality of food and their overall experience. The minister emphasized providing quality food at the centre and ordered the officials to ensure the repair of a broken dishwashing machine at the earliest. He also instructed officials to maintain cleanliness and ensure the proper placement of dustbins at the centre.
Highlighting the state government’s commitment to providing nutritious food in a clean and healthy environment, Mahapatra stressed the importance of serving the poor with dignity. He advised involving self-supporting mothers in the service to improve the quality further, considering the rising costs. The minister pointed out that the government subsidises the meals, with the state paying Rs 23 and people paying Rs 5. He mentioned that a review of the scheme’s name might take place in the future. Launched on April 1, 2015 on the day of Utkal Dibasa, the affordable cooked food scheme currently operates 168 centres in 115 urban areas of the state. All centres and kitchens are ISO-certified and GEO-linked, with 61 centres offering night meals. The scheme supplies one lakh meals daily
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP