Construction labourers to get subsidized meals

AHMEDABAD: The state government has launched a populist measure to provide subsidized meals to 25,000 labourers registered with Gujarat Bandhkam Shramyogi Kalyan Board (GBSKB). The project is a pet project of chief minister Vijay Rupani, who is personally monitoring it, said sources. Of course, the implications of the move is not lost on critics, who say the timing of the project is opportune for those in power, with the 2017 elections nearing each day.
Anil Patel, chairman of GBSKB said, “Initially, we want to start with 25,000 workers registered with the board in four cities - Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and Rajkot.Later we will extend to other parts.” The construction workers will receive a packed lunch of dal, subzi, roti and chutni at the cost of Rs 10 per meal. Patel said the state government has imposed 1% cess on the construction industry and the fund thus collected is being used in this manner for welfare of the construction workers.
“We have tied up with Akshay Patra. Each meal costs R s 42.50. Workers will pay Rs 10 for a meal and the government will pay the rest,” said Patel. “We will ensure that the workers get 2,000 calories in each meal. Lunch packs will have, roti, vegetables, dal, and red chilli chutney, which is generally their diet,” he said. In the first phase of the project, the meals will be offered to 6,500 labourers daily at 11 designated kadiya-naka, or points where labourers gather.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is providing full cooperation. AMC’s standing committee chairman, Pravin Patel, said that the committee has cleared 11 sites across the city to be used for the meal distribution by GBSKB. The food packets will be distributed from Akbarnagar, Chandlodia, Thakkarnagar, Naroda Patiya, Rajendra Park, CTM Crossroads, Sukhramnagar, Narol, Maninagar, Vasna and Sabarmati. Patel said AMC is not into distributing the food or spending any money, but will just permit GBSKB to use the sites for their project.