The State BJP on Sunday termed the Aahaar programme, launched by the State Government on March 2 to provide Rs5-meal to people in urban areas, as ‘contentious’ and demanded its reexamination. Addressing a Press conference, party leaders alleged that the State Government has introduced the Aahaar scheme without a budgetary provision in order to woo voters ahead of civic body polls.
“No budgetary provision has been made for the scheme. The Odisha Mining Corporation and the Touchstone Foundation have been asked to implement the project in Cuttack city for a three-month period from April I. This clearly indicates that the scheme is aimed at wooing voters,” said BJP State vice-president Prithviraj Harichandan.
He wanted to know why the Akhaya Patra and the Touchstone Foundation have been given the responsibilities of cooking and supplying cooked foods without a tender. Further, he said the project can’t be named as a State Government project as three Central PSUs, Nalco, Rourkela Steel Plant and the Mahanadi Coalfield limited and two other companies Tata Steel and State PSU OMC have been asked to provide funds for implementation of the project.
“While a consumer will give Rs5, corporate houses would bear Rs15 per meal. Then what is the justification in calling it as a State scheme,” Harichandan said, demanding that the schemed be re-examined. Among others, BJP State secretary Prabhati Parida and leaders Dillip Mohanty, Jagannath Pradhan and Purnachandra Mallick were present.