Odisha Govt Asks Tata Steel To Support Aahar Scheme In 3 Districts

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has asked Tata Steel to support the Aahar programme in Ganjam, Jajpur and Gajapati district.

“I would like to request you to consider extending support to the Aahar programme of the Ganjam District Aahar Society, to support 12 outlets in Ganjam district, four outlets in Jajpur district, which comes under your CSR activity,” said Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Secretary G Mathivathanan.

In a letter to Tata Steel Managing Director TV Narendran, the H&UD Secretary also asked to support two outlets in Gajapati district, which is part of undivided Ganjam district.

Notably, Tata Steel is supporting the Aahar scheme in Berhampur Municipal Corporation in Ganjam district.

Tata Steel would bear Rs 5.14 crore annually if it supports the scheme in the three districts, said sources.

The state government has extended the Aahar scheme to 29 districts of the state.

“Keeping in view the overwhelming response and the requirement of people, the programme has been extended to all major urban areas across the state. As on date, more than 65000 people are being provided subsidised meal through 110 outlets,” said Mathivathanan.

The Aahar centres have been set up at district headquarters, hospitals and industrial towns with the help of eligible funding agencies.

For the first time, the state government on April 1 opened 21 Aahar centres in five major cities — Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Berhampur and Sambalpur — to provide cheap meals, including rice and dal at Rs.5 a plate.