Guwahati, June 15 (UNI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday performed Bhumi Pujan and laid the foundation for a Centralized Community Kitchen of Akshaya Patra Foundation at Dihing Khamti in Dibrugarh.

The Centralized Community Kitchen to be built for Rs. 25.45 crore, would provide cooked meals to more than one lakh school students. The project would provide mid- day meals to the students under Samagra Shiksha Mission and PM Poshan and is set to be completed in September next year. The project will have Staff Training Centre, administrative office along with other facilities.

In 2011-12 for the first time steps were taken for setting up of centralized community kitchen for preparing mid-day meal in Jalukbari. Thereafter, Guwahati East, Guwahati West and Dispur were included in the project. In 2022, the community kitchen of Akshaya Patra Foundation was inaugurated in Jorhat. The construction of the centralized community kitchen in Majuli is nearing completion.

In Nalbari bhumi pujan was performed on June 7 for the Centralized Community Kitchen. In Lakhimpur the foundation for Centralized Community Kitchen will be laid on June 16, 2025. In Tezpur, steps are underway for the establishment of Centralised Community Kitchen. Similar kitchens will be set up across the state, the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister said that the Centralised Community Kitchen by Akshaya Patra Foundation at Dihing Khamti, Dibrugarh once completed would be able to cater to the nutritional needs of the students of Tingkhang, Khowang, Dibrugarh, Naharkatia, Chabua, Lohowal, Duliajan .

The Chief Minister said that the system besides strengthening the academic ecosystem, would have an impact on the increased attendance of the students to schools. Hailing the Akshaya Patra Foundation for undertaking a great work towards serving the humanity, Dr. Sarma said that even during the COVID 19 pandemic, it undertook initiatives for providing food in COVID care centres. He said that the Hare Krishna Movement has done tremendously well in serving the academic needs of the tribal areas in Tripura.

The Chief Minister said the remuneration of cooks and helpers involved in preparing mid day meal will be enhanced soon.

Sarma said that to ensure the development of Dibrugarh district and making it the second capital, State government has initiated a flurry of activities. As a part of it, the foundation stone of City Hospital involving a financial outlay of Rs. 206 crore was laid, He said that the sports complex being constructed at Khanikar involving Rs. 290 crore would be bigger than that of Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati. He said that Central Government has decided to spend Rs. 600 crore for Trans-Arunachal high way. Moreover, steps have been initiated for revamping the Namrup Fertiliser Plant and the works for the same would be started in November-December this year.

Speaking on the welfare measures initiated by the government, the Chief Minister said that the digitization process for Orunodoi 3.0 has been completed and steps have been taken to ensure that no genuine beneficiary is left out from this social empowerment scheme.

Speaking on Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan, the Chief Minister said that shortly the list of the scheme will be published and if the name of any rightful claimant is left out, she can approach MLA concerned for taking a remedial measure. From August to January, disbursal of amount under the scheme will be initiated.

The Chief Minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state has witnessed a new era of development. Taking peace and prosperity as its plank, the state is fast progressing towards meeting the aspirations of its people.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Transport Minister Jogen Mohan, Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, Industries and Commerce Minister Bimal Bora, Power Minister Prasanta Phukan, MLAs Vinod Hazarika, Taranga Gogoi, Chakradhar Gogoi, President Hare Krishna Movement, Guwahati Janardan Dasa and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

UNI ANP BD