Shiv Bhojan operators await payments, Bawankule assures resolution soon

Nagpur: Shiv Bhojan Thali Scheme operators' payments pending for up to nine months may soon be released, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Friday after meeting operators at the divisional commissioner's office."The issue was discussed in the last cabinet meeting with chief minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis and food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal. After discussion with the CM, efforts are being taken to ensure the pending payments are released at the earliest. I will follow up with the CM," said Bawankule.
Operators told the minister that in some places dues were pending for four months, and in others for 6 to 9 months. Many centre heads, including women running kitchens, said they took loans to keep the Rs10 meal scheme operational and were nearing closure. "How do we pay the women working here? How do we buy raw materials?" several operators asked during the meeting, describing mounting liabilities and the absence of subsidy support. The minister said the operators turned aggressive during the meeting, but they calmed down following his assurance.Launched on January 26, 2020, by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) govt under then CM Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Bhojan Thali scheme provides subsidised meals at ₹10. It became a crucial support during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Nagpur, the network of centres expanded from 9 to 164 across assembly segments. At present, each centre serves between 75 and 100 meals a day. Addressing another policy decision, the minister reiterated that the state abolished the requirement for a Non-Agricultural (NA) sanad for property use. "There will be no need to visit the tehsildar or collector. By paying just 0.10% premium, NA will be deemed approved up to 10 square metres. This will make buying plots, building homes, and starting businesses much easier for citizens," he said.Bawankule also acknowledged differences among party leaders in the Chandrapur civic body, adding that the issues would be resolved soon.