The State Government is providing Rs15 subsidy for a Rs5-meal under its Aahar scheme in the major cities of the State. While the exact cost of the meal is Rs20, three Government-run corporations and the Tata Steel are bearing remaining Rs 15.
This has been stated by Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das, Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Public Enterprises Minister Pradip Amat and Housing & Rural Development Minister Pushpendra Singh Deo in a reply to BJP MlA Dilip Ray’s five different questions in the Assembly.
Around 22,000 people are getting the benefit from the scheme, which runs at 21 locations in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Brahmapur and Sambalpur and Rourkela.
The Tata Steel is paying the amount for Brahmapur, the OPGC for Rourkela, the Idco for Sambalpur and the OMC for both Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
A proposal for further expansion of the programme to other district headquarters is under consideration of the Government, Singh Deo said.
Of the 21 Aahar centres, five are run in Sambalpur and four each in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Brahmapur and Rourkela. The Government has already spent Rs16 lakh to set up the Aahar centres, which are being managed by the Mana Trust and Touchstone Foundation, he said.
Three State PSUs have provided around Rs9 crore (Idco Rs2 .64 crore, OMC Rs3.92 crore and OPGC Rs2.27 crore) for the programme, Minister Pradip Amat said.
Meanwhile, the Tata Steel has spent around Rs 3 crore for the programme, besides the three corporations.
However, Government evaded Ray’s question about providing the Rs5-meal to people in the KBK region.