Odisha Govt to provide free food to poor in every panchayat

The Odisha government announced that free cooked food will be provided to the poor in every panchayat every day during the shutdown period.

With the help of self-help groups (SHGs) cooked food will be given to 100-200 poor people in every panchayat daily during the lockdown period, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed.

Keeping in mind the troubles that economically weaker sections from Odisha are facing during the nationwide lockdown, a preventive measure was taken by the government to prevent the spread of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik announced street vendors of 114 urban areas will get an assistance of Rs 3,000 each. The Chief Minister further said the move will help 65,000 registered street vendors in the State.

Yesterday CM directed officials to provide ration for three months, allowances for four months and other financial assistance to the food security act beneficiaries.

The Odisha Government has decided to provide food to destitute, homeless persons and beggars free of cost in urban areas of the state during the countrywide lockdown for coronavirus outbreak.

Collectors of all districts have been issued a direction in this regard. It has been decided to provide hot cooked meals/dry food/packaged food to the urban homeless during day and night free of cost.

Funds required for this purpose will be met out of the Red Cross Fund available in respective districts.

The Odisha government has arranged food and shelter for as many as 5547 workers from other states who have been stranded due to countrywide lockdown.

A total of 36 camps have been set up in Odisha to accommodate the workers from Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Telangana, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

For people from other states stranded in Odisha, a helpline is operational in the office of the Labour Commissioner, Odisha. The number is 18003456703.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had yesterday written to CMs of all states urging them to assist people from Odisha who are stranded across different parts of the country amid nationwide lockdown.

Patnaik mentioned that the Odisha Government will bear the cost required for their safekeeping. He also assured the CMs regarding assistance towards persons of other states in Odisha.

READ: Odisha to set up country’s largest Coronavirus hospitals in 15 days