Bhubaneswar: After a brief break following the massive devastation caused by the severe cyclonic storm Fani in the city, the Aahar centres opened again today providing 8,000 meals to the beneficiaries of the subsidised meal distribution scheme, a flagship programme of the Odisha Government, at a token amount of Rs 5, a meal. The meals were served today between 11 am and 3 pm.
The operation of citywide Aahar centres at 11 places and the central kitchen at Bamphakuda near Nakhara had to be stalled following the damage due to the the cyclonic storm. However, the provision of night meals at three Aahar centres i.e. Capital Hospital, Kalinga Hospital and Sum Hospital is yet to start.
As per sources, the subsidised meal distribution scheme aims to provide nutritious sumptuous lunch as it covers students, workers, visitors to hospitals and the city searching for work and the needy. This scheme also provides meals to the residents of two Shelters for Urban Homeless in the city.
Jal Seva Sibir
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation in association with various stake holders has so far opened 65 “jal seva sibir’’ or water kiosks to distribute potable water to the general public from their roadside kiosks.
With the city appears almost empty with the entire green cover losing the canopy following the severe cyclonic storm on May 3, the civic body in partnership with various stakeholders has set a target of having 200 “jal seva sibir’’ across the State Capital. Self Help Groups, Bharat Scouts and Guides Odisha Branch and Biju Yuva Bahini have joined the mission for the first time.
As the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted a lasting and hot summer, the supply of drinking water at “jal seva sibir’’ will provide a quick respite to pedestrians and other commuters during the hot hours of the day. As the city-based organisations have sensed that the coming months will be severe with heat-wave like conditions, they are also opening “jal seva sibir’’ much faster than the previous years.
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