Bengaluru: Come Feb. 1, Indira Canteens across the State will serve extra quantity of breakfast at the same subsidised price. Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has directed the authorities to serve more quantity of breakfast since there were public complaints.
According to regulars at the canteens, they were forced to buy two tokens to have their fill. Henceforth, they can look forward to a more sumptuous breakfast at the same price. However, the quantity of lunch and dinner will remain unchanged.
The increase in quantity of breakfast will also apply to the 246 Indira canteens being set up at other taluk and district headquarters.
Currently, the canteens serve three Idlies weighing 150 gm, or Puliogare (300 gm), Khara Bath (200 gm), Pongal (225 gm), Khichdi (200 gm), Chitranna (225 gm), Vangi Bath (225 gm) and Chow – Chow Bath (175 gms) depending on the breakfast menu for the day.
From Feb. 1, the servings will be increased by nearly half. “The catering contractors had quoted Rs. 57 per day for one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner.
A customer having all three meals at the canteen will be paying Rs. 25 and the remaining Rs. 32 per person is paid by the government.
Now that the quantity will be increased and the additional cost will be borne by Government,’’ sources said.
I don’t think that the revised quantum of various menu-wise items of food preparations are actually being dispensed yet. On questioning the staff on duty at Allanhalli Corner Indira Canteen, Mysore, they embarrass you by telling what can one expect at the price that it is served conveniently hiding the fact that the Government is subsidizing the scheme. The staff in question was one Gautam. The Government needs stricter monitoring about all aspects that impinges this scheme including its scale, portion size, hygiene & sanitary protocols, drinking water dispensing machine, the timings during serving operations, etc. Many a times, it is observed that the operations are closed much before the scheduled closure times and that too even when the food is still remaining to be dispensed.