Indira Rasoi Yojana launched on Sadbhavana Diwas : Full Meal Will Be Served with Respect for Just Rs. 8, This Scheme Shows Sensitivity of the State Government - Chief Minister

Jaipur, August 20. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot launched the State Government’s ambitious scheme ‘Indira Rasoi’ (Indira Kitchen) on Thursday through video conferencing. Under the scheme, full meals will be provided to the poor and needy for just Rs. 8, which will be served with maintaining full dignity. This scheme was launched on the occasion of ‘Sadbhavana Diwas’, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi, the pioneer of information revolution and on the name of former Prime Minister Late Indira Gandhi, the symbol of woman empowerment. Every year around 4.87 crore people in the State will get fresh and nutritious food. 

Shri Gehlot launched 325 kitchens out of 358 Indira Rasoi started in 213 urban bodies across the State through video conference on Thursday. He said that the great leader and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for the welfare of poor, backward, deprived and helpless people gave the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ (remove poverty). She had started a 20-point programme and had launched a successful campaign such as the Green Revolution to make India self-reliant in food grains. The State Government has launched this scheme naming it after her. This scheme shows the sensitive thinking of the Government, he added. 

The Chief Minister on this occasion spoke to representatives of voluntary organisations running Indira Rasoi and beneficiaries at Jodhpur, Jaipur, Rajsamand, Ganganagar, Sirohi, Bharatpur, Kota, Banswara, and other places. Beneficiaries expressing happiness on starting of this scheme said that one gets a roti for Rs. 10 in the market, while providing full meal for merely Rs. 8 at Indira Rasoi shows the State Government’s public welfare oriented thinking. 

Important Role of Voluntary Organisations in Public Welfare Schemes 

The Chief Minister expressing gratitude to voluntary organisations supporting this scheme said that Indira Rasoi is a big step towards fulfilling the Government’s pledge of ‘No One Sleeps Hungry’. Besides the efforts of the State Government, the way voluntary organisations have come forward to provide food to needy people with the spirit of service at the time of corona is really praiseworthy, he added. 

Food Will be As Per the Local Taste 

Urban Development Minister Shri Shanti Dhariwal said that people will be respectfully seated and served fresh and nutritious food in Indira Rasoi scheme. He said that special attention will be paid on the quality of the food along with ensuring online monitoring to maintain complete transparency in the scheme. The menu of the food will be as per the local taste instead of serving the same food at all places. 

Minister of State for Education Shri Govind Singh Dotasara said that during the previous regime, Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot had started public welfare schemes such as Social Security Pension, Chief Minister's Free Medicine and Diagnostic Scheme. Now starting such a scheme for poor and needy people on the name of Smt. Indira Gandhi is an excellent initiative, he said. 

Secretary, Department of Local Self Government Shri Bhawani Singh Detha gave detailed presentation of the scheme. He said that Indira Rasoi Scheme is being started on priority at crowded places such as Railway Station, Bus Stand and Hospitals. He said 20 kitchens will be started in Jaipur Municipal Corporation area, 16 each in Kota and Jodhpur, 10 kitchens each in Ajmer, Bikaner, and Udaipur, 5 in Bharatpur Municipal Corporation area, three each in 34 municipal councils and one kitchen each will be started in 169 municipalities. The State Government will spend Rs. 100 crore every year on this scheme. 

Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shri Niranjan Arya, Principal Secretary Urban Development Shri Bhaskar A. Sawant, Commissioner Information and Public Relations Shri Mahendra Soni, Commissioner Information and Technology Shri Virendra Singh and Director, Local Bodies Shri Deepak Nandi were present on this occasion. Members of the Council of Ministers of State, Members of Legislative Assembly, Divisional Commissioners, District Collectors, Public Representatives of Local Bodies, Officers and Representatives of Voluntary Organisations were connected through VC with this program.