Tale up to now
Indira Canteens in Bengaluru, which can be already starved of finances, at the moment are hit by means of a water disaster. Bangalore Water Provide and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has lower water provide to the canteens for non-payment of expenses. In December 2022, 15 cellular Indira Canteens have been close down bringing up loss of patronage.
Maximum canteens in Bengaluru are struggling because of what the opposition alleges is loss of passion by means of the BJP executive to fund operations of the canteens, which have been introduced in 2017 by means of the Congress executive.
What are Indira Canteens?
Indira Canteens have been arrange in Karnataka in March 2017 with the purpose of serving the city deficient at the strains of the Amma Canteens in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Whilst breakfast is to be had at a subsidised price of ₹5 in keeping with plate, lunch and dinner are presented at ₹10 in keeping with plate. The then Leader Minister Siddaramaiah, in his price range, had put aside ₹100 crore for those canteens, named after former High Minister Indira Gandhi.
A document photograph of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi having a meal with then Karnataka Leader Minister Siddaramaiah and different Congress leaders after the inauguration of the Indira Canteen in Bengaluru.
| Picture Credit score:
V. Sreenivasa Murthy
On August 16, 2017, 101 Indira Canteens have been inaugurated by means of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who had the primary breakfast on the canteen in Jayanagar. Later, the initiative used to be expanded to more than a few portions of Karnataka.
BJP sidelines canteens
The opposition Congress alleges that issues began to switch when the BJP got here to energy. The canteens in Bengaluru, despite the fact that operational, have turn out to be a light shadow in their former selves.
Karnataka executive were offering 30% subsidy to the BBMP for working Indira Canteens in Bengaluru. In 2017-18 and 2018-2019, the then executive allotted ₹100 crore and ₹145 crore, respectively.
After the BJP executive took over, prior to now two years, no finances have been allotted for the scheme. Therefore, the civic frame needed to allot finances to the canteens from its already stretched price range. The BBMP had earmarked ₹60 crore within the 2022-23 price range for operating the Indira Canteens, which used to be lower than part of what used to be allocated in 2018-19.
In 2020, Mr. Siddaramaiah had written a letter to the then Leader Minister B.S. Yediyurappa interesting to transparent contractors’ expenses. He had alleged that the BJP used to be looking to scuttle the welfare scheme by means of now not liberating finances on time, making it tricky for the native our bodies to transparent expenses of contractors.
What’s BBMP making plans?
The approval for the canteen has come down. Therefore, the BBMP is having a look to shift the canteens, which can be in much less populated spaces, to densely populated spaces.
A BBMP legit concerned with the undertaking stated, “It’s true that the canteens don’t seem to be as widespread as previous, specifically after the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re having a look at more than a few techniques to popularise the canteen and goal extra other folks within the coming days.
A document photograph of other folks having meals within the Indira Canteen at Ganganagar in Bengaluru. Consistent with officers within the BBMP, the recognition of Indira Canteens has come down.
| Picture Credit score:
SUDHAKARA JAIN
“One measure is to relocate canteens in lesser populated spaces to densely populated spaces, corresponding to bus stands, railway stations, and marketplace spaces. The State Cupboard has given the nod for the transfer. The City Construction Division (UDD) is carrying out a survey,” the legit added.
This measure is aimed toward making the canteens economically viable and likewise serve extra other folks. At this time, Indira Canteens supply foods to round 70,000 individuals each day, consistent with the civic frame.
Distributors now not paid
At this time, 3 distributors ChefTalk, Rewards and Adamya Chetana are offering meals within the canteens at a value of ₹55.30 for 3 foods an afternoon, which is borne by means of the civic frame.
Then again, the distributors allege that the BBMP has now not cleared pending expenses.
A consultant of Cheftalk Meals stated, “BBMP is but to transparent our expenses, which can be due for a number of months. Regardless of expenses now not being cleared, we’re offering meals within the canteens.”
After BWSSB disconnected water provide, the distributors additionally alleged that the former contractors had now not been paying expenses on time, which led to disconnection of water provide by means of the BWSSB.
“The earlier dealer has now not paid the water invoice as a result of their dues weren’t cleared by means of the BBMP on time, which resulted in water disconnection. Now, we’re relying on water tankers and cans for ingesting water in canteens,” consistent with a supervisor in one of the vital canteens.
BBMP Leader Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath showed that water expenses have now not been paid. “I’ve won court cases referring to scarcity of ingesting water in Indira Canteens. As in keeping with the settlement, the contractors are accountable for offering water at Indira Canteens, and they have got to pay the water invoice. That is the settlement between the contractor and BWSSB,” he stated.
Why have been cellular Indira Canteens close?
Round 15 cellular Indira Canteens have been operational in Bengaluru, consistent with BBMP officers.
In December 2022, the BBMP close down all cellular Indira Canteens in Bengaluru.
A document photograph of other folks having meals on the newly-inaugurated cellular Indira Canteen, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on January 26, 2018.
| Picture Credit score:
Ok. Murali Kumar
BBMP Leader Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath defined, “We didn’t have any purpose of shutting down cellular canteens. Then again, we don’t seem to be seeing many of us the use of them. Except for cellular Indira Canteens, all different canteens are operational.”
A senior Palike legit stated that the principle reason why for shutting down cellular canteens used to be that contractors weren’t glad with the charge for maintaining them operational.
- Indira Canteens in Bengaluru, which can be already starved of finances, at the moment are hit by means of a water disaster. Bangalore Water Provide and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has lower water provide to the canteens for non-payment of expenses.
- On August 16, 2017, 101 Indira Canteens have been inaugurated by means of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who had the primary breakfast on the canteen in Jayanagar. Later, the initiative used to be expanded to more than a few portions of Karnataka.BBMP.
- Leader Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath defined, “We didn’t have any purpose of shutting down cellular canteens. Then again, we don’t seem to be seeing many of us the use of them. Except for cellular Indira Canteens, all different canteens are operational.”
