Indira canteens in DK to provide boiled rice, pickle

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader said that boiled rice, vegetable palya and pickle will be served in the meals at Indira Canteens in Dakshina Kannada district.

Speaking here on Wednesday, he said that four Indira canteens in Mangaluru and another at Thokkottu will provide the locally preferred boiled rice. A demand for boiled rice was made by people when he visited an Indira Canteen recently. People had demanded pickles, rice, rasam and curd rice for lunch, he said.

Khader said people from Mangaluru prefer boiled rice, while labourers from other parts of the district want white rice. The boiled rice will be served on a trial basis in the Indira canteens in Mangaluru. The breakfast will have idli and chutney or rice items like kichdi or khara baath.

The first Indira canteen at the hobli-level in Thokkottu will be inaugurated on March 22 at 4.30 pm. To help the labour class, there is a proposal to change the timings of the food being served at Indira canteen from 7 am to 9.30 am instead of 8 am to 10 am. The canteen at Pumpwell is ready for inauguration, he added.

To a query on the menu, the minister said that there is a provision to modify the menu at the district level which will be later approved by the state-level committee.

To a query on AICC President Rahul Gandhi's advice to the Congress leaders, Minister Khader said that Rahul Gandhi has called upon the Block Congress presidents and Congress leaders to fight the election with a positive attitude and not to go for hate politics.

Assault

To a query on police personnel assaulting Congress workers during Rahul Gandhi's visit to Ullal Dargah at Kallapu, the minister said that there was a huge crowd. "I have directed the Police Commissioner to initiate action against wrongdoers."

The Congress workers did not stand on the police vehicle purposefully in Mangaluru. "If there was any mistake by Congress workers during Rahul Gandhi's visit to Mangaluru, I seek an apology," he added.

Garbage issue

On failure to dispose of garbage in Mangaluru Assembly constituency being highlighted by opponents, U T Khader said that failure to dispose of garbage is a social issue and not a political one. The disposal of the garbage needs to be taken collectively by the local body and the citizens.