CM Naveen launches ‘Aahar’ scheme

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik launched the low-cost lunch scheme ‘Aahar’ for urban poor announced by Odisha government at the Capital Hospital here today and will launch the same at Rourkela Government Hospital in the steel city.

According to sources, Finance minister Pradeep Amat will launch the scheme at Burla in Sambalpur today on Utkal Divas.

In Rourkela, Aahar will be available at government hospital, bus stand, Bedabyasa and Power House road, sources said.

Similarly in Cuttack, the low cost lunch scheme will be available at two hospitals-SCB hospital and Sisu Bhawan (paediatrics hospital) – and at Badambadi bus terminus and Malgodown, the biggest wholesale market of the state.

Notably, the State government has engaged State public sector units (PSU) for implementation of cheap meal programme “Aahar” for the poor in urban centres, after central PSUs allegedly refused to sponsor and fund the programme.

The State-owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) would sponsor ‘Aahar’ programme in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, Odisha Power Generation Corporation would look after the cheap meal scheme at Rourkela.

Similarly, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) would sponsor the programme at Sambalpur, while Tata Steel has agreed to fund the cheap meal provision at Berhampur.