Odisha seeks corporate funding for affordable food scheme

Posted on 14th Mar 2015 10:13 am by mohit kumar

Bhubaneswar, March 12 (IANS) The Odisha government has sought the assistance of corporate houses to roll out its affordable food scheme 'Aahar' for poor people from April 1, officials said on Thursday.

As per the scheme, the government would provide a meal for Rs. 5 to the urban poor in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Rourkela towns in the state.

It expects that Rs.2.19 crore would be spent for the scheme per year, officials said.

The government has asked Tata steel, Nalco, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd, Odisha Mining Corporation and Steel Authority of India Ltd (Rourkela steel plant) to provide financial assistance for the infrastructure.

"This initiative requires financial support from corporate bodies out of their CSR fund to support one time capital expenditure to meet part of the infrastructure cost," housing and urban development secretary G. Mathi Vathanan said in a letter to the corporate bodies.

The government has decided to open Aahar centres (canteens) at bus stands, railway stations, collectorate and hospitals in these five urban locations.

While it is estimated that each meal would cost Rs. 20 to be served, the government would provide it at a subsidised rate of Rs.5. The contribution of corporate houses would be Rs.15 per meal, the secretary said.

The menu of the vegetarian meal comprises of plain rice and Dalma (a combination of lentils and vegetables).

The poor people visiting these cities can avail the Rs.5-meal at these canteens during lunch time.

The government would make the necessary arrangements to provide food to 25,000 people each day.

Other news

Munawar Faruqui in the custody of Mumbai Police late at night, the comedian was caught in a raid on a hookah bar.

Munawar Faruqui Detained: It seems that the police are keeping a close watch on the winners of 'B

OPEC gave a blow to the expectations of cheap petrol and diesel, crude oil prices rose by 10 percent in three days

Due to the huge fall in the prices of crude oil in the international market in March, the expecta

New Dhansu phone launched for just 10 thousand rupees, will get a 50MP camera and 13GB RAM

Amazon Deal On Smartphone: Another phone has been launched in the segment of 10 thousand, the Tec

800 million corona may be infected in China: Mass funeral begins; There is no place in hospitals, mothers are fighting fever with potatoes

In China, 800 million people may get corona infected in the next few months. Airfinity, a London-

4 rs per annum on the mental health of every Indian. Expense of; 26 crore people worldwide in depression, world economy loss of 75 lakh crores every year due to this

new Delhi. Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput is no longer in this world. On Sunday, he committ

India-Pak Relations: India gave a message to Pakistan, saying- friendly relations should be in a terrorism-free environment

Days after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered bilateral talks, India on Thursday said

So did the eldest son's rebellious attitude stop Lalu from coming to Patna, speculation intensified after Rabri's sudden return to Delhi

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's program to visit Patna has been postponed. Now he will not be able to cam

Indo-China border dispute / Divisional commander level talks between the two countries today; Rahul said- Chinese entered our border, but the Prime Minister is silent

Ladakh Divisional commander-level talks of the two countries' armies will take place today, with

Leave Gujarat-Himachal, will the results of the by-elections on these 7 seats force the leaders to think again?

Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are over and speculations are on. Amidst the f

Bill Gates: Gates shared the video with a tea seller from Nagpur; He Said- Here you can find innovation everywhere

Microsoft founder Bill Gates spent time with a tea seller from Nagpur on Instagram on Wednesday.