The Rajasthan governmen has launched a subsidised meal programme – the “Annapurna Rasoi” scheme – under which breakfast will cost Rs 5 and lunch meals will be served for Rs 8, The Indian Express reported on Friday. The scheme, launched by state Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Thursday, will initially be made available in 12 cities before being spread to the rest of the state.

Raje said the meals would be “provided through special vans so that needy people get nutritious food”. Eighty vans along with trained staff have been deployed in the 12 cities. A government official said the administration would bear a “financial burden of Rs 10 crore for 12 cities” as a breakfast meal costs Rs 21.70, and other meals cost Rs 23.70. “This gap will be approximately Rs 40 crore if the scheme covers all the urban areas of the state,” Manjeet Singh said.

Rajasthan Urban Development and Housing Minister Srichand Kriplani said the government was planning to extend the programme to all other urban areas of the state in the next six months. The programme is similar to the “Amma canteens” launched by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in her state. A similar scheme was also launched in Odisha in 2015.