Rich are hogging Indira Canteen food, poor left disappointed

The main aim of starting Indira Canteen was to provide food at subsidised rates for the poor and the labour class.  However, the rich foodies of the City are hogging all the food in the canteen depriving the poor.  The BBMP has no ways to avoid this. BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad says they cannot stop anyone from eating at the canteen, it is for the rich to understand, reported Kannada Prabha.

The critics are complaining that the tax payers’ money is being spent on providing food at subsidised rates. Hence a method to see that the food goes to the poor and deprived should be implemented. The social media is busy with comments in this regard. Several workers, like Sundaresh, spoke to Kannada Prabha and expressed their disappointment at not being able to get food at Indira Canteen despite standing in queue. The food supplied for each canteen is to serve 300 persons. But the people coming to the canteen far outnumber this.

For the consecutive third day there is chaos at the 101 canteens. There is no system to keep tab of the quantity of food served. The contractors can supply less and claim having served more.  The quantity of food per plate is not being checked either.  Every day the canteen has to serve a total of 900 persons 3 times at 300 persons for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast at Rs 5, lunch and dinner at Rs 10.  The consumer pays Rs 25 to the canteen and the government gives Rs 32 taking the total to Rs 57. The cynics say the contractor can serve only 600 to 700 and claim to have served 900.  Hence there is a need to check the supply.

The BBMP has clarified that at the place of cooking, before sending the food it is measured at 250 gms per person for 900. The coupon is collected for 900 per day. There can not be any misappropriation. The cynics say that may be the quantity checked at the place of distribution could be correct but at the destination it could differ.

Responding to such far fetched comments BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad said a large number of people are only checking social network and making imaginary comments. There is a system in place to check contractors.  Many are misleading the public and the project, he said.

The positive comments are also making the rounds in the social media. Several people requested not to post pictures of poor eating at the Indira Canteen and post on the social media.  This they claimed is a violation of privacy and demeaning the poor.

The food for all Indira Canteens is to be supplied by the 23 specially installed modern kitchens. However, due to the urgency of inaugurating the canteens for Independence Day, the kitchens are not yet ready. Only 6 kitchens were ready for the inauguration. Hence ad hoc arrangements have been made at the White Petals, Palace Grounds to cook. The critics say this is a gross violation of the contract. The contractors have given sub-contracts to prepare the food.

Responding to this allegation BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad told Kannada Prabha that everything is being implemented according to the contractual norms. Even the quality and quantity are as per the tender. The purpose of the project is to provide quality food to poor at subsidised rates. Unnecessarily finding fault should be avoided, he said.

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