Bhubaneswar: The Aahaar centres located on premises of hospitals and nearby areas across Odisha will remain open on all Sundays to enable poor people to get subsidised food.
The Housing & Urban Development Department of the state government has directed the commissioners of all municipal corporations as well as collector-cum- president of district aahaar societies to take necessary steps for keeping these centres operational in or near hospitals on Sundays.
“Need to appreciate that requests are coming from many quarters to open the Aahaar Kendras in or near hospitals on Sundays in ordr to facilitate the patients and attendants to get food in affordable price in the vicinity of hospitals,” an official communication said.
“Considering the difficulties of the patients and attendants coming to the hospitals, it is decided to keep open the Aahaar Kendras operating in or near hospitals on Sundays also,”it stated, adding that maintenance of the Aahaar Kendras can be carried out after closing of service.
The department asked the authorities concerned to instruct Aahaar implementing partners and other stakeholders accordingly.
It may be noted that there are 167 Aahaar centres operational across Odisha, of which 82 are located on campus of hospitals where people avail quality meal at a cost of only Rs 5. Out of these, 58 Aahaar centres serve meals at night hours. Approximately, 48,000 people get benefits from 82 Aahaar centres daily. As the Aahaar centres remain closed on Sundays, patients or attendants used to face difficulties.
Taking the matter into consideration, the Health and Family Welfare department had drawn the attention of Housing & Urban Development department requesting it to keep Aahaar centres in hospital open on Sundays. After analysing the suggestion, the concerned department has decided to open Aahaar centres on all Sundays.
