Lunch for poor in Odisha towns

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Mar 2: In yet another populist measure, Odisha Government on Monday announced that it would make food available to poor people at a cheap rate in five towns of the State from April 1.A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting that was presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.The food under the scheme will be available at Aahar stalls to be opened at crowded places such as bus stands, railway stations, medicals and Collectorates in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Rourkela.A meal consisting of rice and Dalma during lunch time will cost the poor people Rs.5 only, the government announced.Arrangements will be made to provide this cooked food for a total of 25000 people under the scheme.While the departments of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, and Urban Development will provide infrastructure, experienced non-government organisations will be handed over the responsibility of the running the Aahar stalls.Different corporate houses will extend necessary assistance for the running of the scheme, the government said.The cheap lunch scheme will be extended to other towns in future keeping its success in view.