Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Jun 6: Indira canteens that provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for 1500 people have literally stopped functioning in the last some years. There are five Indira canteens in Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) limits. Now only 150 to 200 customers are visiting each canteen at a time.
Discussion as to why Indira canteen, which provides breakfast for Rs five and lunch and dinner for Rs 10, failed to attract more customers in the city, which has highest number of migrant labourers and students, did not take place at government level.
In 2017, chief minister Siddaramaiah began Indira canteen on the lines of Amma Canteen of Tamil Nadu. In the beginning there was good response from the public. However, attention of government got reduced as the days went by.
Accusations were also heard that the contractor of the canteens are showing false figure of 500 beneficiaries having food each time. As there is no measure to know the actual people consuming food in the canteen gave way to these kind of suspicion.
The naming of canteens after former prime minister and Congress leader Indira Gandhi and the rule of non-Congress party after 2018 is also one of the reason for this project not attraction much attention. Attempt was made to change the name of the canteen also. Grants were also not released for the scheme.
At present there are five Indira canteens under the limits of MCC at Statebank, Kottara, Urwastore, Kavoor and Pumpwell. As much as 70% expenses are borne by MCC and 30% by the labour department. In total Rs nine lac is spent every month on these canteens.
Most of the people have tea with snacks. But tea and coffee are not available in Indira canteens. Even sambar, chutney and vegetables can be provided in the available resources. There is great demand for gruel meal in the city that is given in the morning in small shops. The needs should be changed according to local taste.
Speaker Khader said, “Indira Canteens are formed keeping in mind the needs of commoners. The lacunas will be corrected. The Congress government will take suitable decision in this regard.”