Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddharamaiah inaugurated all 11 Indira canteens in city by formally opening a canteen located at the CADA office premises, opposite Mysore Palace, here this morning.
Though, the programme was scheduled at 10 am, the CM arrived at around 11.30 am and inaugurated the canteen by unveiling the plaque installed in front of the canteen. He also tasted ‘Upma’ and ‘Kesaribath’ prepared for the breakfast before leaving for Malavalli by road to attend other programmes.
With the canteens becoming operational, a total of 5,500 people will be benefited each time the food is served in the canteen. Each canteen will serve for around 500 people. The food to the canteens will be supplied from two centralised kitchens located near the PKTB Sanatorium and Alanahalli.
workers cleaning one of the centralised cooking places at PKTB Sanatorium.
The preparation for the breakfast will begin at 2 am and the same will be dispatched to the canteens by 6.30 am. The serving commences at 7 am. Then the cooks will start preparing lunch by about 8 am and dispatch the same by 12 noon and for dinner, preparations begin at 4 pm to be dispatched before 7 pm every day.
The canteen will provide breakfast at Rs. 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs. 10. Though the State Government has fixed Rs. 16.16 for breakfast and Rs. 21.92 for lunch and dinner, the canteen would be collecting Rs. 25 for all three meals per day from each person in place of Rs. 60. The State will provide rest of the amount.
A Delhi-based Rural Environment and Water Assets Reproductive Development (REWARD) Society is supplying the food to these canteens. A combined total of 100 persons will be working in all 11 canteens with each canteen having about 8 to 9 employees. The cleaners for canteens will be provided separately.
MCC officials displaying Rs. 5 tokens
This apart, the Mysuru City Corporation’s Health Officer Dr. Nagaraj will be visiting each of the canteens to monitor the cleanliness. The MCC will also conduct health check-up for all the canteen employees every six months. On seeing the plastic plates being used to serve breakfast, the canteen operators were instructed to use steel plates.
District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, MLAs M.K. Somashekar and Vasu, Mayor M.J. Ravikumar, Deputy Mayor Rathna Lakshman, Zoo Authority of Karnataka Chairperson Mallige Veeresh, MyLac Chairman H.A. Venkatesh, CADA Chairman Nanjappa, Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, AC Shivegowda and others were present.
What quantum of prepared food is to be supplied during breakfast, lunch & dinner under the Indira Canteen System to the general public ? Why the staff on duty avoid providing contact details of the senior officers managing this arrangement. The hygiene, as observed at Allanhalli Corner, Mysore canteen is not very good with food being served being littered on the serving platform. People should not be allowed to wash their hands at the drinking water dispensing machine. There has got to be regular monitoring & supervision of the system. This is a laudable system on the part of the state Government but its mismanagement should not bring bad name to it instead. A complaint number must be displayed prominently at each Indira Canteen facility. The staff posted should not duck the contact details of the local supervising authority if asked. Overall, the Government in Karnataka deserves kudos for introducing this facility. Two major nationally reputed food laboratories are located in Mysore. Their services can be enlisted for better practice & enforcement of hygiene & sanitary protocols. Other states can also emulate this model, especially to serve the poor hungry & needy. Jai Hind, Jai Karnataka.