App to help hungry find canteen, monitor demand and supply

Giving a hitech touch to the subsidised food project, BBMP is developing the Indira Canteen app that will help people locate nearby five canteens and monitor the demand and supply of food on a daily basis.

The application, which is being developed by a team of BBMP’s Information Technology cell, uses geo-positioning system to track the canteen. It also gives information about the menu at the canteens and availability of food in a particular canteen. Speaking to DH, BBMP special commissioner Manoj Rajan said, “The app uses the Google map to help users track the location.”

“Sitting in my office I can find out how many kg of food material has reached the canteens daily. The incharge of the canteen will have to weigh the quantity of the food material that reached there and put it on the app. Accordingly, we can conclude how many people had tiffin or meals there,” said Rajan. In the event of increase in demand, the joint commissioners will have to place an order on the app to their superiors at least a week in advance.

The Palike has decided to give credit ranking to the best performing canteen and will award the catering service providers, manager and staff of the canteen. It has also drafted the user manuals for the catering service providers about hygiene. The manual makes it clear that every staffer should take bath everyday early in the morning before starting work. They have to keep their hair and nails trimmed. There are also directions on what food items should be kept in the refrigerator and how to keep the premises free from mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and rodents.