Ranchi: On Wednesday, state finance minister Rameshwar Oraon in an unexpected gesture praised the erstwhile BJP government for the Mukhyamantri Daal Bhat Yojana — an initiative to cater nutritious food to the people of the state. However, he also announced to change name of the scheme to Guruji Kitchen. Supporters of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren fondly call him Guruji.
Oraon on Wednesday had said, “A few years ago, I had visited the Mukhyamantri Dal Bhat Kendras in remote places of Gumla and Lohardaga districts. I ate at these centres a couple of times. They served rice, pulses and vegetables. The quality of the meal was good and hence, we decided to strengthen the scheme and open more centres in Jharkhand under the name Guruji kitchen.”
At present, there are 377 Dal Bhat Kendras across 24 districts of the state. Of them, 11 operate as night centres. These centres, operated by self-help groups, feed people rice, pulses and vegetables with grams and soya chunks at Rs 5 a plate. Rice is supplied to these SHGs at Rs 1 per kilogram while the district administration procures pulses, fuel and other items through open tenders. These centres usually feed between 50 and 200 people each day.
Shibu, an incumbent MP and a former chief minister of Jharkhand, is also fondly addressed as Dishom Guru by JMM functionaries and his followers.
On Thursday, when TOI inquired about a formal launch date of Guruji Kitchen, Arun Kumar Singh, secretary of the state food, civil supplies and public distribution department said it will be launched in the new financial year.
When asked about the budgetary allocations for the same, Singh said, “Funds allocated for the Mukhyamantri Dal Bhat Yojana will be used for the new scheme. In FY 2019-2020, the erstwhile Raghubar Das government had allocated Rs 70 crore for the schemes.”
While the existing centres will remain, the government, through the new scheme, will increase their numbers and strengthen the infrastructure and improve the hygiene of the existing ones. “Meals will be served at Rs 5 a plate, but the nutrient value of food will be improved,” Oraon had said.
Launched in 2011 by former chief minister Arjun Munda, the scheme was strengthened during the tenure of Das (2014-2019). In urban areas, non-profit organisations were roped in under the scheme to provide hygienic meals on wheels at Rs 10 a plate. In the 2019 poll canvassing, Raghubar Das had announced to start Mukhyamantri Canteen Yojana if voted to power.