Govt doubles Shiv Thalis

Nagpur: The state government on Tuesday has approved to double lunch plates under the Shiv Bhojan Scheme. The district administration may increase the number of plates at existing centres or open new ones.
The state’s food, civil supplies and consumer protection department issued a notification on Tuesday approving 100% times rise in lunch plates.
A pet project of CM Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Bhojan Scheme was launched on January 26 across the state. Considering the huge response and need for expansion, the government has doubled lunch plates.
All 11 districts of Vidarbha had opened centres where delicious food is being served at the rate of Rs 10. Each lunch plate costs Rs 50. The government gives subsidy of Rs 40 per plate to the NGOs and organizations running the centres.
In Nagpur, the district administration had launched five centres at Daga Hospital, Matru Sewa Sangh’s maternity home in Central Nagpur, RST Cancer Hospital at Tukadoji Putla square, MSRTC Bus stand at Ganeshpeth and APMC Market at Kalamna.
With the latest decision, Nagpur will have to increase lunch plates from 750 to 1,500, Chandrapur 350 to 700, Amravati- 500 to 1,000, Akola- 300 to 600, Wardha- 200 to 400, Yavatmal- 450 to 900, Gondia- 200 to 400, Bhandara- 200 to 400, Gadchiroli- 150 to 300, Buldana- 400 to 800 and Washim- 300 to 600.
However, the timings of lunch has been not expanded. Lunch will be provided only between 12noon and 2pm. Most of the centres are opened at railway, bus stations, government hospitals etc.