Siddaramaiah launches 20 mobile Indira Canteens

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched 20 mobile Indira Canteens, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, on Friday.

"This system of serving subsidised food across the state, has given us satisfaction. The pain of hunger can only be understood by only those who experience it"....

"It is only after understanding such pain that, we do not want  anybody to go hungry," the CM said.

"It is our aim to make Karnataka a hunger-free and malnourishment-free state," added Siddaramaiah.  

He took a jibe against those who are opposing the scheme 'for political gain'.

"This programme is meant to serve the poor and if people are seeking political gains even in this, it is utterly shameful of them," the chief minister said.

Siddaramaiah also said that the government is looking at launching Indira Canteens in colleges and schools where students can buy food at affordable rates.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said that all the canteens will be on trial till February 1st.

"We have made all arrangements. But to get a hold on things, we have decided to run a trial wherein they try routes and pitstops and how the scheme does overall. All 24 mobile Indira Canteens will be fully functional from February 1st," said Prasad.

The state government's pet project, Indira Canteens had a target of launching mobiles in all 198 wards in the city.

However, BBMP  could not find space in all wards to park the mobiles and 24 mobile Indira canteens were launched instead.