PUNE: Given the overwhelming response to the Shiv Bhojan scheme, the State government has doubled the number of Shiv Bhojan plates to be served across the State. Accordingly, 1,000 plates will be served in Pune centres and 500 plates will be served in Pimpri Chinchwad centres. 

The department of food and civil supplies, which is a nodal department for the implementation of the scheme in the State, issued a new notification on February 18. 

The notification says that even though minimum plates served at the centre remains 75, the number of maximum plates per day has been increased to 200 from the present level of 150 plates.
 
The scheme has seven centres in Pune and three centres in Pimpri Chinchwad. The thali consists of two chapatis, a vegetable bowl, rice and dal. 

According to the notification, in addition to the officers from the department of food and civil supplies, taluka officers, block development officers and senior officers have been asked to pay a visit to the Shiv Bhojan centres and supervise the implementation of the scheme. 

Currently, the meal is made available through centres situated near government offices, hospitals, bus stops, railways stations and markets. However, the government has planned to expand the number of centres at additional locations.