Mumbai: The Mahayuti govt has revived the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) govt’s Shiv Bhojan Thali scheme ahead of the local body polls. After starving the scheme of funds and considering axing it due to financial constraints, the Mahayuti govt has now sanctioned Rs 21 crore to revive the scheme. The total budget allocated for the scheme is Rs 70 crore, out of which Rs 28 crore has been released. In September, Rs 21 crore was disbursed. The Shiv Bhojan Thali scheme, launched to provide affordable food to the poor, was suffering a major setback due to financial difficulties. Centre operators say payments have been pending for the past eight months, creating livelihood issues for them. The union of Shiv Bhojan Centre owners recently sent a letter to CM Fadnavis, demanding immediate payment of outstanding dues.In March, the Mahayuti govt quietly wound up the Shiv Bhojan scheme for the poor, launched by the MVA govt led by Uddhav Thackeray on January 26, 2020. When Ajit Pawar presented the budget, there was no mention of the populist scheme. The burden on the state exchequer due to the scheme was Rs 14 crore. Initially, the cost of each thali was Rs 5; it was later increased to Rs 10, and during the Covid period, it was given free. According to official records, 2 lakh thalis were supplied daily from 1,904 centres across the state.NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal, who is the food and civil supplies minister, also took up the issue of the scheme with CM Devendra Fadnavis, saying that in the larger interest, it should not be wound up.“To provide Shiv Bhojan thali to the poor and needy persons on a subsidised basis, a grant of Rs 70 crore for the financial year 2025-2026 was allocated. Now Rs 28 crore has been freed by the Finance Department. This grant should be spent for the purpose for which it has been sanctioned. The amount will not be used or diverted for any other purpose,” the Govt Resolution (GR) issued by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department states.“After receiving the grant, the department should strictly follow all the rules and take action regarding spending in the next 10 days from the date of receiving the grant, otherwise, the grant will be taken back and distributed as per the need of other districts,” the GR states.Currently, beneficiaries have to pay Rs 10 for the thali costing Rs 50. The remaining Rs 40 is paid by the state govt to the centre operator. To adhere to the govt rules, CCTV cameras have been installed at each centre to prevent malpractices by centre operators.
