Breakfast for Rs 5, lunch for Rs 8 under Rajasthan govt's 'Annapurna Rasoi'

Jaipur: The Rajasthan Government has launched a subsidised meal scheme 'Annapurna Rasoi', in 12 cities on Thursday to provide food at nominal rates to the underprivileged.

The scheme which was unveiled by state Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at Jaipur also had Urban Development and Housing minister Shrichand Kriplani, BJP state president Ashok Parnami and Mayor Ashok Lahoti present at the occasion.

The scheme has initially been launched in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Baran, Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh and Jhalawar. It will be implemented in other cities within the next 6 months, Kriplani was quoted saying.

Under the scheme, breakfast will cost Rs 5 and lunch/dinner at Rs 8 for the underprivileged. However, the actual cost of a breakfast is Rs 21.70 and Rs 23.70 for a lunch/dinner. The difference will be borne by the government said Manjeet Singh, principal secretary, Local Self Department.

"The government will have to bear a financial burden of
Rs 10 crore for 12 cities as the financial gap. This gap will be approximately 40 crore if the scheme covers all the urban areas of the state," he said.

The meal will be cooked and served by trained staff in 80 special vans.