Bhubaneswar: Aahaar – one of India’s most ambitious initiatives for subsidized meals to the needy in the urban areas has completed seven years of operation. On this occasion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has congratulated all associated with it for making it a successful initiative. In a tweet, Naveen said “Aahaar has won the confidence of the urban and poor people by providing them nutritious food. Along with alleviating hunger, it is also carrying the message of women empowerment in the state. I congratulate everybody associated on the occasion of the completion of seven years of Aahaar Kendras.”
ସହରାଞ୍ଚଳରେ ଗରିବ ତଥା ଅସହାୟଙ୍କୁ ପୁଷ୍ଟିକର ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଯୋଗାଇ ‘ଆହାର’ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଭରସା ଜିତିବାରେ ସଫଳ ହୋଇଛି। ଏହା ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଭୋକ ମେଣ୍ଟାଇବା ସହ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ନାରୀ ସଶକ୍ତିକରଣର ବାର୍ତ୍ତାବହ ସାଜିଛି। ‘ଆହାର’ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରର ୭ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ତ୍ତି ଅବସରରେ ଏହାକୁ ସଫଳ କରୁଥିବା ପ୍ରତିଟି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିବିଶେଷଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଜଣାଉଛି।#Aahaar pic.twitter.com/30OXRIIuvH
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 2, 2022
Aahaar is an initiative by the Government of Odisha to provide subsidised meals to the needy in the urban areas and was launched on 1st April, 2015 by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. From the pilot five Municipal Corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela, the Aahaar Kendras are now functional in 158 Kendras in 114 Urban local bodies of Odisha. Every day more than one lakh fifty thousand people are benefiting from this most subsidized cooked food scheme. Located in the most busiest places such as Bus Stands, Railway Stations, Markets and Hospitals, the Aahaar Kendras offer nutritious food that include hot Dalma and rice with pickle for only Rs five.
Keeping in view the need of the urban people, 56 Aahaar Kendras situated near the hospitals are also offering meals at night to the needy. More than 20 thousand people getting the benefits at these centers in the night time.
The management of the Aahaar Kendras has been handed over to Women Self Help Groups in many areas thereby helping them financially.