100 ‘Aahar’ cheap meal centres opened in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, April 14 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched 100 ‘Aahar’ centres that will provide cheap meals to the poor, covering all districts of the state.

Under the ‘Aahar’ scheme, the state government provides a meal of rice and ‘dalma’ at only Rs.5 per head at the centres located in different district headquarters and industrial towns.

‘Dalma’ is a dish of pulses or lentils.

"I am happy to dedicate 100 Aahar centres that have been extended to all districts. It will benefit over 60,000 poor people," said Patnaik, launching the second phase of the scheme in Cuttack.

The scheme was launched last year on Odisha Foundation Day on April 1 in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur.

The scheme has also got the support of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) wing of the Adani Group which owns the Dhamra port in Bhadrak district.

Tata Steel already supports the scheme in Berhampur.

The state public sector units namely Odisha Mining Corporation, Odisha Power Generation Corporation and Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation are also sponsoring the scheme.