SHG members provide 1.5 crore meals to needy & helpless people during lockdown in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, May 10 () The members of women SelfHelp Groups (SHG) in Odisha have provided more than 1.5 croremeals to the needy and helpless people during the lockdown tocontain the spread of the novel coronavirus, officials said.

As part of efforts to provide food security to thehelpless people, members of Mission Shakti SHGs have provided2.05 lakh meals to Aahar Kendras, subsidized food centres inmunicipal areas, they said.

Similarly, the SHGs have provided meals to 44,832patients in different hospitals during the ongoing nationwidelockdown, a senior official said.

So far, a total of 7,127 SHGs have provided over 1.56crore meals, involving themselves in the preparation of cookedfood both in rural and urban areas of the state, said SujataR. Karthikeyan, Commissioner-cum-Director, Mission Shakti.

Recognising their role, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaikhas also highly appreciated the selfless service, enthusiasmand sincerity of Mission Shakti SHGs for their activeparticipation in food security and social security programmesduring extraordinary situation due to COVID-19 lockdown, shesaid.

Keeping in view their contribution in providing foodsecurity to destitute and helpless people in such difficultsituation, the chief minister has also announced an incentiveof Rs 2 per meal for them.

This apart, as many as 1,242 SHGs have prepared morethan 40 lakh masks during the lockdown, while about 8,000members are providing dry ration and vegetables through 595ration shops and 154 mobile vans. So far, 15,274 quintals ofvegetable and dry ration have been sold by them, Karthikeyansaid.

In addition to their active role during the lockdownwith devotion and sincerity, around 70 lakh members of MissionShakti SHGs are also involved in economic activities such asfish farming, mushroom farming, dairy farming, supply of takehome ration (THR) to Anganwadi Centers, management of farmponds and fair price shops under public distribution system,she said.

During lockdown period, mothers of Mission Shakti havebeen provided with credit assistance to the tune of Rs 145crore in zero interest through linkage with different banksfrom the month of April till date.

Now, with thousands of migrant Odias who were strandedin different parts of the country returning to Odisha, thewomen SHGs need to play another important role. They will haveto ensure that the returnees strictly adhere to the quarantineguidelines and their family members maintain socialdistancing, she said.

The Mission Shakti Director said the SHGs membersshould lead the fight against COVID-19 in their respectivevillages by keeping their family members away from thequarantine centre and by not allowing the returnees to visittheir home without spending the mandatory quarantine period inthe temporary medical centres.

On Saturday, 3,18,630 destitute and helpless personswere provided with food in 4,994 gram panchayats. Similarly,in areas under 114 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), 35,154 peoplehave been served with food on the day, official sources said.

So far over 53,000 people have returned to to thestate and the returnees are being directly sent to thequarantine centres set up in their respective panchayat areas,official sources said, adding as many as 14,308 temporarymedical centres have been readied in 6798 gram panchayats ofthe state. SKNRG RG