food

Onions vanish from household kitchens

December 5, 2019 By LocalWire Leave a Comment

Bhubaneswar, December 5 (LocalWire) With price of onions soaring to exorbitant height, crossing Rs 100-a-kg, the middle class households are feeling the pinch of prohibitive price rise of the culinary staple.

As a result onions have vanished from household kitchens.

The onion price rise has become a daily ritual.

It had made overnight jump to Rs 120 to 130 a kg from yesterday’s price of Rs 100-a-kg.

Unless the supply chain increases, the price will continue to remain on the upward.

The State receives onions from Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The supply from these producing areas has thinned down leading to the upward spiral of onion price, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranedra Pratap Swain told reporters here today.

We expect scenario to improve towards the December last week or January first week.

The fresh produce is expected from these producing States in a month, he said.

Though the minister claimed to have opened 256 fair price shops across the State providing people at subsidized price of Rs 50 to Rs 60, reports reaching here from various parts indicate that the shops are functioning on paper only.

Odisha is a consuming State. Of the required demand, the State produces a meager 25% of the crop.

So the State is dependent on producing states like Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra to meet with the markets’ demand.

Kalahandi is the major onion producing district of the State, said an official of State agriculture department.

With price rise pinching our pockets, we had rationed the staple diet to a kilogram per four days.

That was when price hovered around Rs 60 to 70.

With price crossing Rs 100 mark since past two days, we have stopped buying onions altogether, said a homemaker from Unit-6 area in the city, Ranjeeta Mohapatra.

I have stopped selling onions since yesterday. There are no buyers.

I had procured 2 quintals of onions last week from the wholesale market.

With great difficulty, half of it could be sold.

Around a quintal of onions perished, said a trader in Saheed Nagar haat in the city.

LocalWire

Continental restaurants in Bhubaneswar you must visit (Special)

December 3, 2019 By Sneha Santuka Leave a Comment

Bhubaneswar, December 3 (LocalWire): How does one visit Europe without actually visiting the continent? This may seem impossible but if you are a lover of food, you may already know how food connects people and places beyond any other thing.

Whether you want to simply get a taste of European cuisine in your own city, or reminisce about your own memories of the place and wish to revisit it, food is the simplest road to salvation in this respect.

With the advent of cultural globalization, foodies throughout the world have been the most significant victors, as various cuisines are reaching even the most distant corners of the globe.

American fast-food joints like McDonald’s and Domino’s, for example, have become popular enough to reach each and every nook and cranny of human civilization.

Of late, continental cuisine also seems to have become quite popular in Odisha, especially in Bhubaneswar, and more and more restaurants are now including it in their menus.

LocalWire brings to you five of top continental restaurants in Bhubaneswar.

Whenever you are in the mood to try out something different and take your taste buds out for a journey to Europe and its unique flavours, these five eateries are your go-to destination.

1) Bling It On:

This cosy Italian restaurant on Janpath Street belongs to the New Marrion group of hotels. It is a must-visit place and highly recommended by a lot of people, including FoodFindo founder Rohit Srivastava.

Chicken lasagne, parsley prawns, chicken ravioli and chicken ala kiev are some of the must-have delicacies here. A meal for a couple of people will cost around Rs 800-1,000 here.

2) Moody Blues:

This multi-cuisine restaurant-cum-lounge bar doesn’t disappoint either in its ambience or quality of food.

Some of its popular winners are its mocktail counter, a dance floor, an in-house DJ as well as an elegant fountain-like structure made of glass and lights which serves as an excellent selfie station.

With amazing service and incredible cocktails, it attracts foodies of all age groups. You may also like to try Fish Potli biriyani, Afghani chicken and garlic bread here. The prices are a little bit on the higher side, but it offers good value-for-money.

3) Oberai Bakers and Cafe:

With its elegant ambience and spacious seating arrangements, this quaint place that opened just a month ago on Cuttack road, near Jharpada has a variety of multi-cuisine food options, along with cakes, pastries, macaroons and other bakery products.

It serves as a cool hangout place for both friends and family. It goes easy on the pocket as well. Grilled chicken and mushroom tikkas are a must-try.

4) Bocca Café:

Whenever you feel like spending some quality time with yourself, Bocca Café is the go-to place.

With its vintage charm, attentive staff and delicious food it makes the perfect getaway.

Adding some more to this reputation are its books, which you can read while enjoying your meal.

Pita with hummus, chicken cotaletta, spaghetti and chicken meatballs, chicken stroganoff and blueberry cheesecake are some of the must-try delicacies. Prices are not too high and the food is good value for money.

5) Michael’s Kitchen:

Different cuisines are available here, but the continental menu is worth a try.

The food is filling as well as good looking. The service is great and the waiters help you pick out the best items.

The Chef’s special menu is worth trying. The prices are a bit on the higher side and crab soup is a must-have delicacy.

LocalWire

Govt failed to utilize budgetary allocations for state potato mission: CAG

November 28, 2019 By LocalWire Leave a Comment

Bhubaneswar, Nov 28 (LocalWire): The much-hyped State Potato Mission (SPM) launched to make Odisha self-sufficient in the root vegetable failed as the government could not utilize the financial resources that were at its disposal.

The failure of SPM has come to the fore with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) pulling up the government in its audit report released today.

‘The objective of achieving self-sufficiency in production of potatoes could not be achieved as the government could succeed in utilizing only 25% allocated budgetary provisions in this regard,’ the CAG report indicted the government.

In order to make the state self-sufficient in potatoes by 2017-18, government had launched SPM during 2015-16 for production, storage and distribution of potatoes in the state.

During 2015-16 to 2017-18, Rs 26.65 crore (20.5 per cent) was utilized against the budgetary provision of Rs 130 crore.

Similarly, against the physical target of establishing 55 cold storages, only 23 (41.81 per cent) cold storages had been established till March 2018, the report found out.

It’s pertinent to note here that during the monsoon session of the Assembly in July, the government had admitted the failure of potato mission for absence of cold storage facilities. The state continues to be dependent on neighbouring West Bengal to meet the demand for potatoes.

LocalWire

Headmaster suspended after dead lizard infects mid-day meal

November 20, 2019 By Ashis Senapati Leave a Comment

Jajpur, Nov 20 (LocalWire): Headmaster of Sribantapur Primary School under Dharmsala block in Jajpur district was suspended today after 40 students fell ill after having the mid-day meal on Saturday and a lizard was found in the meal after probe.

The Block Education Officer (BEO) of Dharmasala, Prafulla Kumar Behera, was asked to inquire the matter.

The BEO came to know that the mid-day meal was contaminated as a dead lizard was found in the ‘dalma’ served to children.

‘It is the responsibility of the headmaster to monitor the cooking of the mid-day meal in the school but he committed gross negligence by not tasting the food before it was served to the children. Nityananda Samal the headmaster has thus been suspended,’ said Krushnachandra Nayak, the district education officer, Jajpur.

LocalWire

Activists criticise rural body for denial of ration over open defecation

November 2, 2019 By Hrusikesh Mohanty Leave a Comment

Berhampur, Nov 2 (LocalWire) The right to food campaign activists have expressed displeasure over denial of rations to more than 20 families in Gautami gram pachayat of Ganjam district for alleged open defection terming the move as an attack on the constitutional rights of the citizens.

“Right to live with dignity is meaningless unless the right to food is ensured”, the Supreme Court had said in a judgment in November 20001, said Rajkishor Mishra, former state advisor to Commissioners of Supreme Court on Right to Food.

Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) denial of ration to any eligible beneficiary amounts to violation of one’s constitutional rights.

They urged the rural body to revoke the decision and ensure food for all and requested the district administration to intervention in the matter.

Goutami panchayat has recently decided to stop ration to the families, if any member was found to be relieving in the open, particularly on road sides.

The ration provided under public distribution system (PDS) was stopped to over 20 families of the panchayat for the reason this month, sources said.

‘The move is aimed at creating awareness among the people to use toilets and maintain hygienic condition in the panchayat”, said panchayat sarapach Sushant Swain stating villagers have been asked to built toilets in their house in next two months for which they will be provided money from Swatchh Bharat Mission (SBM).

As many as 180 houses in the panchayat have been found to be without toilets.

Bhala Chandra Sarangi, a peasant leader said the panchayat can adopt some other methods to motivate the people for use of toilets but should not deny them their right to food. The aim of the right to food act is that no one should die of hunger, he said and demanded withdrawal of the decision.

Ganjam collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said no eligible family would be denied ration under Food Security Act and he would discuss the matter with the bock development officer and panchayat body soon, he said.

LocalWire

Aahar centre Chhatrapur receives ISO certification

October 29, 2019 By Hrusikesh Mohanty Leave a Comment

Berhampur, Oct 29 (LocalWire): The Aahar centre, located at lower bus stand, Chhatrapur, the district headquarter town of Ganjam district, has received ISO certification for quality management system.

The certificate stated that Aahar Kendra of Banki has been found in compliance with requirements of Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015 for the following scope: Provide Meal to Needy People under the Flagship Program ‘Food for all’.

The ISO certificate was issued from 25 October and will be valid for three years.

It will expire on 24 October 2022. The Aahar center is managed by the NAC, Chhatrapur.

The subsidized meals at Rs 5 was provided through this centre to around 500 people every day, except for government holidays, at noon, said executive officer, NAC Chhatrapur, Girija Shankar Mallick.

He said the standard and maintenance of Aahar centre was at par with world class standards.

The ISO certification of the Aahar centre assumed significance as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked his Cabinet colleagues and officers to visit it and taste the quality of the subsidized food.

Senior bureaucrats, including chief secretary AK Tripathy and 5T secretary VK Pandian had taken lunch at the Aahar centre at Boudh during their visit, while former Union minister and MP (Berhampur) Chandra Sekhar Shau and MLA (Berhampur) Bikram Panda had taken their noon meal at an Aahar centre at Berhampur to test the food quality.

The department of housing and urban development manages 158 Aahar centres across the state.

Earlier, the Aahar centre at Banki in Cuttack district had received the ISO certification for maintaining quality and standard. ‘Maintaining the quality and standard of all 158 Aahar centres across the state has been a priority of the department’ said a senior officer of the department.

LocalWire

Berhampur MP and MLA eat lunch with commoners at Aahar Centre

October 16, 2019 By Hrusikesh Mohanty Leave a Comment

Berhampur, Oct 16 (LocalWire): After top bureaucrats, elected leaders today joined local citizens for lunch at one of the Aahar centres here.

Launched in April 2015, the Aahar centres are part of the state government’s cheap meal scheme for the urban poor and serve cooked rice, dalma and pickle at Rs 5.

Berhampur MP and former Union minister Chandra Sekhar Sahu and local MLA Bikram Kumar Panda paying a surprise visit to the Aahar centre at the new bus-stand area.

The duo joined the queue at the counter, took tickets for the meal and interacted with those having lunch, seeking their feedback on the quality and quantity of the food served at the centre.

‘The quality and taste of the food was good,’ Sahu said after finishing his lunch.

He, however, pointed out that while the interior of the Aahar centre was hygienic, the external drainage system was not proper and the overhead water tank placed on the rooftop was not covered.

‘We have pointed this to the concerned officers, including the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) commissioner Chakravarti Singh Rathore, who has assured to take care of it,’ the MP stated.

‘Our main aim was to examine the quality of food being served where poor people take their lunch,’ Panda said.

Four days ago, top bureaucrats, including chief secretary Asit Tripathy, 5 T secretary V Karthikeyan Pandian and National Rural Health Mission director Shalini Pandit had taken their lunch at the Aahar centre at Boudh.

The trio had eaten the cheap meal at the centre during their visit to the district to review the health scheme in the district.

LocalWire

Onion price on the rise

September 23, 2019 By LocalWire Leave a Comment

Bhubaneswar, September 23 (LocalWire): With the price of onion soaring on a daily basis, the staple component of the Indian food is fast vanishing from the middle-class household kitchens.

While the onions price touched Rs 50 per kilogram today, its cost varied from Rs 46 to 48 per kg on Sunday.

“The price is going up on a daily basis as there is a gap between the demand and supply,” a wholesale trader in Unit-1 market area of the city, Mahendra Rout, said.

“Unless the supply increases, the price will continue to remain on the upward. The city mostly receives onions from Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The supply from these areas has gone down leading to the upward spiral of onion price,” he said adding that the price of onions was ranging between Rs 17 to Rs 20 a month back.

According to sources, with the production of onions likely to begin within a fortnight, the supply will be normalised and there will be a drop in the price.

“Odisha is a consuming state. Of the required demand, the state produces a meager 25% of the crop. So the state is dependent on producing states like Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra to meet with the markets’ demand. Kalahandi is the major onion producing district of the state,” a state agriculture department official said.

LocalWire

Ahimsa Rath launched in Ganjam district

September 19, 2019 By Hrusikesh Mohanty Leave a Comment

Berhampur, Sept 19 (LocalWire): An Ahimsa Rath to spread the message of Gandhiji was launched today by an NGO along with different organizations in Ganjam district.

The Rath with groups of artists performing street plays, would visit crowded places, schools and colleges and collect signatures to campaign for the inclusion of Ahimsa or non-violence in the preamble of the Constitution and disseminate the messages of Gandhiji.

Launched at Gopalpur-on-sea by the state Assembly Speaker Surya Narayan Patro, in presence of commerce and transport minister Padmanav Behera, SC/ST development minister of state Jagannath Saraka and several MLAs and two MPs of the district, the Rath will cover the district and end at Kanishi on 2 October.

The Speaker also launched Gandhi Jyoti, another vehicle carrying messages of Gandhiji on the occasion.

The Gandhi Jyoti would visit almost all villages of Goplapur Assembly constituency to educate people about non-violence and the philosophy of Gandhi, said MLA (Gopalpur).

The campaigning is assuming significance with chief minister Naveen Patnaik demanding the inclusion of Ahimsa in the preamble.

A resolution was also passed in the Assembly last year.

‘In order to mobilize public support for the chief minister’s demand, we have extended the signature campaign and spreading of Gandhian values among the youths,’ said Panigrahy.

LocalWire

Odisha to pilot fortified rice scheme in Malkanagiri from January 2020

September 12, 2019 By Hrusikesh Mohanty Leave a Comment

Berhampur, September 12 (LocalWire): The Government of Odisha has decided to supply fortified rice under its Public Distribution System (PDS) in the tribal-dominated Malkanagiri.

The initiative that will be launched in January 2020 as a pilot project is aimed to address the problem of anemia and micronutrient among the people in the district.

Under the programme the government fortified rice, rich with mineral and Vitamin will be distributed through the PDS system among the people in the district.

“The NITI Aayog had identified 15 districts across the country for implementation of the distribution of fortified rice.

Of these, they identified Malkanagiri, a tribal-dominated and Maoist-infested district from our state,” the state Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said.

According to Swain, all the beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) in the district would get the fortified rice.

The scheme would be extended in other districts based on the success of the pilot project in Malkanagiri.

The minister further informed that the government would float a tender to identify the agency to source fortified rice. He, however, said that the quantity of fortified rice needed by the state is yet to be decided.

Swain along with the state Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo was at Chhatrpur, the district headquarter town, to attend a felicitation programme organised by Rushikulya Rait Mahasabha, a farmers’ organization in the district.

He was told this on the sideline of the meeting.

According to experts, to achieve the desired results, fortified rice kernels (FRK) are blended with the rice in a ratio of 1:100. In other words, 1MT of FRK is mechanically blended with every 100 MTs of rice to get 101 MTs of appropriately fortified rice. With this beneficiaries would get iron, Vitamin B12, and folic acid.

“Consumption of fortified rice would improve the nutritional quality of the food supply and to reduce the level of anemia in the district,” the minister stated.

The state government has implanted the rice fortification scheme in the mid-day meal (MDM) in Gajapati, the only district in the state since 2013.

The fortified rice in MDM was launched to cover 81,314 students in 1230 schools in the district and the results were encouraging.

According to a study by the ICMR Regional Medical Research Center, the level of anemia among the school-going children in the district has gone down by 28% since the implementation of the scheme six years ago.

LocalWire