Housing and Urban Development Minister Visits Ahar Kendra at Capital Hospital

Bhubaneswar: Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra paid a surprise visit to the Ahar Kendra at Capital Hospital premises today.

The minister bought a coupon and ate the food alongside the people. He engaged with diners, asking about the quality of the food and their overall experience at the food center.

Dr. Mahapatra emphasized the importance of cleanliness and food quality at the center, ordering the immediate repair of a broken dishwashing machine. Addressing the media, the minister confirmed that the food scheme would continue, as it serves the public’s interest. He mentioned that a review of the scheme’s name might be conducted in the future.

Highlighting the state government’s commitment to providing nutritious food in a clean and healthy environment, Dr. Mahapatra stressed the importance of serving the poor with dignity. He advised involving self-supporting mothers in the service to improve the quality further, considering the rising costs. The minister pointed out that the government subsidizes the meals, with the state paying ₹23 and people paying ₹5.

Launched in April 2015 on the day of Holy Uttara, the affordable cooked food scheme currently operates 168 centers in 115 urban areas of the state. All centers and kitchens are ISO certified and GEO linked, with 61 centers offering night meals. The scheme supplies one lakh meals daily. Dr. Mahapatra also instructed officials to maintain cleanliness and ensure proper placement of dust bins at the center.