The Indira Canteen in Ward No 14 in Mysuru.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The inordinate delay in relaunching Indira canteens, that are at present in a sorry state, has struck a be aware of disappointment amongst a piece of residents, significantly the poor and dealing class, particularly provided that the undertaking is a flagship one of many Congress and recognized to be expensive to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Apart from opening two canteens in Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, nowhere in Karnataka have the canteens been revamped. The authorities had promised to extend the variety of canteens from 165 to 250. The authorities had additionally proposed to alter the menu.
Breakfast is served at ₹5, lunch and dinner are served at ₹10 in the canteens. In Bengaluru, though the BBMP has submitted the tender, the federal government is but to present a nod.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.Ok. Shivakumar and Ministers Ok.H. Muniyappa and Byrathi Suresh inaugurated the Indira Canteen at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 11, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
S. Babu, Bengaluru District Street Vendors Association, mentioned many avenue distributors and pourakarmikas have stopped consuming in the canteens as a result of poor high quality of meals. “The quality has been deteriorating since the last few years. Our hopes were revived after the Congress government made an announcement of relaunching the canteens, but they have been dashed with the delay,” he mentioned.
T. Pachaiyappan, an auto driver who lives in Ulsoor, mentioned the establishing of Indira Canteens was the perfect factor that occurred to Karnataka. Thousands of auto drivers had been visiting them. “Eating in the canteens helped drivers save money. But later, after the Congress lost the Assembly elections in 2018, many canteens became defunct. The food quality was also compromised. Now, auto drivers do not visit the canteens. The new government should have refurbished the canteens,” he mentioned.
Sunil Bajilakere, an activist from Mangaluru, mentioned no canteen in Mangaluru is functioning, and it is a drawback for the poor.
Venkatesh P., a resident of Raichur, mentioned the federal government’s failure to implement its promise of reviving the canteens might not have a deep influence on the elections, however would have earned favour amongst voters, particularly in rural and backward areas.