Bhubaneswar: In a novel move, the Gajapati district administration in Odisha has set up canteens for farmers visiting the paddy procurement centers with a view to offer free lunch to people bringing their agricultural produce from distant villages.
Already, four such free canteens have been opened at Paralakhemundi, Kashinagar, Upalada, and Garabandh.
According to district administration officials, women self-help groups (SHGs) in these areas are preparing vegetable meals and serving food to the farmers at the free canteens. These free canteens are run by the Paralakhemundi Regulated Market Committee (RMC), Gajapati collector Lingraj Panda said.
The RMC secretary L Raghu Babu said the women’s self-help groups in the region are being given Rs 60 per meal. Currently, four SHGs are operating these free canteens, and talks are on to open such free canteens in other areas.
In addition to meals, the farmers are also being provided free soft drinks and clean drinking water at the procurement centers by the RMC.
Panda said, “We have launched the canteen system to provide free lunch to farmers who come to the procurement centers with their agricultural produce and cannot return home for their meal.”
