Bhubaneswar, May 22: Aahar centres in Odisha have been the most useful eatery for the underprivileged people amid lockdown. As many as 4.61 lakh people relied on it for at least two meals most affordably.

Corona has badly affected on the trade and livelihood of common men. Mostly, the laborer class people those depend upon daily wages suffered a lot due to loss of job and livelihood due to impose of lockdown and shutdown. Basically, the urban based slum dwellers faced the challenge of food security due to cease of works. At this moment, Aahar centres became their kitchen to keep their family members alive. A homey meal at rupees five helped them to surpass the bad period of lockdown and other whips of Corona.

As the functionaries of Aahar assess, Aahar centre has been one of the greatest community kitchens for Odisha people. It was able to provide 4.61 lakh quality meals to the needy amid this lockdown through its 163 counters across the state. Aahar centres located near the hospitals have been the only destinations for the poor people. Attendants and relatives of the patients are getting standard meals with low cost that supplements the treatment of their wards.

On the other hand, all the kitchens, outlets and the food carriers are hygienically maintained to prevent infections. All the protocols for Covid1-19 are strictly adhered at the Aahar centres to contain corona from the beneficiaries, said an official of Aahar.