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Rahul Gandhi launches subsidised Indira Canteen

Last Updated 16 August 2017, 20:12 IST

All India Congress Committee vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched state government’s flagship programme Indira Canteen, subsidised food outlets that provides breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs 10, at Kanakanapalya in Chickpet Assembly
constituency.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced to open 198 canteens in all wards of the city. However, only 101 canteens started functioning on Wednesday as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) faced hurdles at several wards after the residents and citizens groups raised objections for opening canteens at civic amenity sites.
Lauding the state government’s programme, AICC vice president said that Indira Canteen is designed to make sure not a single person goes hungry in the city.

He added that the facility is another step towards ‘food for all’ commitment of Congress.
Indira Canteen is targeted at the poor and daily wagers who cannot afford two meals a day, he said and asked the state government and the BBMP to maintain cleanliness and hygiene and not to compromise on taste and quality of food.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “It (Indira Canteen) is a continuation of state government’s programme of making Karnataka a hunger-free state.

We have been distributing rice at subsidised rates to the poor and about 1.08 crore people have been benefitted by this under Annabagya scheme.”
Taking a dig at the citizens forums for opposing setting up of Indira Canteen, Siddaramaiah said, “We have not built any canteens on notified parks or playgrounds. Those who oppose this move do not understand the hunger pangs of the poor, and does not understand the value of the food.”

The chief minister said that the remaining 97 canteens will be inaugurated on October 2, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The canteens are expected to serve 500 plates of meal in each session. Once, all 198 canteens start functioning, about 3 lakh people will be have subsidised food daily. To reduce the crowd at canteens, a ticker board will be displayed at the entrance of each canteen to indicate the number of people it can serve. “Depending on the number, the people will be let in,” said BS Prahallad, chief engineer, BBMP.
During the normal days, 7 workers will be deployed in each canteen, and it will be increased depending upon the rush,” added Prahallad. Talking about the subsidised food, Prahallad said, “The actual cost is Rs 11 for breakfast. While the beneficiary will pay Rs 5, the remaining Rs 6 is borne by the government.”
Mayor G Padmavathi said, “While Indira Gandhi coined ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan and implemented slew of schemes to eradicate poverty, our chief minister is working on ‘Hasivu Hatao’ campaign to make Karnataka a hunger-free state.”

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(Published 16 August 2017, 20:12 IST)

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