Kolhapur Shiv Bhojan Operators Threaten Strike Over 8-Month Unpaid Subsidies
Shiv Bhojan thali operators in Kolhapur district held a press conference on Monday. They expressed deep frustration over unpaid subsidies. The operators revealed that the subsidy payments have been pending for the past eight months.
Despite repeated follow-ups with top officials, the payments remain stalled. The operators have contacted the chief minister, deputy chief ministers, and administrative officials. Their efforts have yielded no results so far.
Background of the Shiv Bhojan Scheme
The Maharashtra government launched the Shiv Bhojan scheme on January 26, 2020. This initiative aims to provide affordable meals to the poor across the state. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the scheme proved crucial.
Lakhs of people benefited from these subsidized meals. The pandemic period saw immense demand for the thalis. Tragically, around twelve people died while performing this essential work in Maharashtra.
Current Operational Challenges
Across Maharashtra, there are 2,100 Shiv Bhojan centres. Kolhapur district alone operates 55 of these centres. Within Kolhapur city, 21 centres serve the local population.
Kishore Airekar, a member of the Maharashtra State Shiv Bhojan Centre Operating Organisation, shared critical insights. He stated that approximately two lakh people benefit from this thali every day across the state.
Rising costs pose a significant challenge for operators. Prices of essential items have increased sharply. Grain, pulses, oil, gas, and vegetables all cost more now.
Operators also face regular expenses like rent, electricity, water bills, and worker salaries. These payments must be made on time to keep the centres running smoothly.
Financial Strain and Demands
The subsidy amount has remained stagnant since 2020. Operators received Rs 40 per thali initially. There has been no increase in this subsidy amount since the scheme's inception.
For the past eight months, operators have not received any subsidy payments. This delay has pushed many centre operators into debt. They struggle to manage daily operations without financial support.
Airekar emphasized that operators have approached all concerned ministers. The issue has not received serious attention from the authorities. This neglect has forced operators to consider drastic measures.
Operators now threaten a one-day shutdown of thali centres. They plan this action to draw the government's attention to their plight. The shutdown will occur if the subsidy amount is not paid on priority.
The operators hope this protest will compel the government to address their grievances promptly. They seek immediate release of pending subsidies to continue serving the needy.
