Maharashtra government launches scheme to provide meal for Rs 10 

Mumbai, December 24, 2019: It was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet at Sahyadri Guest house to provide meal under ‘Shivbhojan’ scheme for only 10 rupees to the poor and needy people of the state. The State Government expects to spend Rs 6.48 crore in three months to launch the scheme on an experimental basis.

In the first phase of the scheme, the government has been approved to start at least one eatery having capacity of 500 dishes at the headquarters of each district. After observing the response, the scheme will be implemented in other parts of the state.

The government-initiated eatery will offer a dish containing two chapatis of 30 grams, one cup of 100 grams vegetable, rice of 150 grams and one Dal of 100 grams. These eateries will remain open from 12 pm to 2 pm. This dish will available in Rs 10 under the ‘Shivbhojan’ scheme.

Will receive a grant

The price of ‘Shivbhojan’ plate will be Rs. 50 per plate in urban areas and Rs. 35 per plate in rural areas. Other than10 rupees received from each customer, the remaining amount will be given directly to the collectors as a subsidy and distributed through them to the concerned people. For urban areas, subsidy is Rs 40 per plate and Rs 25 per plate in rural areas.

Who can start a restaurant under the Shivbhojan Scheme?

The person who wants to start a Shivbhojan restaurant needs to have enough space of his own. In order to implement the scheme, best eateries will be selected which are currently operating in the state-owned eateries, women’s savings groups, eateries, restaurants, non-governmental organizations. For this, a committee will be set up at the municipal level under the chairmanship of the Collector while at the taluka level the committee will be set up under the chairmanship of Tehsildar. The dishes will be sold in places like district hospitals, bus stations, railway station premises, and markets, government offices, where there is an influx of poor or laborers.

Participation of NGOs

There will be a High Power Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary at the state level to monitor and supervise the scheme. This committee will consider all options and take action to decide the next phase of the scheme. It will also decide on the participation of Central Kitchen, reputed NGOs, public trusts and CSRs and VSTFs and outline the participation of the government. Likewise, the Committee will emphasize the use of the principle of cross subsidy and public-private partnerships to make the scheme sustainable.