A month after the state government’s ambitious Indira canteens rolled out, the Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) has announced the inauguration of mobile canteens in all district headquarters.
KSWDC Chairperson, Bharathi Shankar, on Monday announced that ‘Indira Saviruchi Kai Thuthu’ mobile canteens will be inaugurated in all district headquarters across the state on November 1.
The KSWDC chief said that these mobile canteens will be run only by women. “The district Stree Shakti Women’s Cooperative will be put in charge of the operations of the mobile canteens,” Bharati said.
These women’s cooperatives will be granted a fund of Rs 10 lakh for the functioning of the mobile canteens.
From the drivers of the mobile canteens to the cooks and the cleaning staff, all of them will be women.
“We plan to employ local women. Those who do not know how to drive will be taught and we will see to it that they obtain licenses. This is a move to empower women,” she added.
“The Indira Saviruchi Kai Thuthu mobile canteens will offer food at subsidised rates. If these mobile canteens are successful, we will implement it in all taluks as well in 2019,” Bharathi Shankar said.
However, the food menu for these canteens and the price list has not yet been announced.
On August 16, 131 Indira Canteens were inaugurated in various wards across Bengaluru city. The Siddaramaiah government, at the time, had announced that mobile canteens will be operable at every district headquarters if the canteens are successful.
Bengaluru was slated to get 198 canteens which are being maintained by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
The BBMP ran into trouble for attempting to construct canteens on playgrounds and parks, the city residents had protested the civic body’s move.
The Palike had faced difficulty in finding land for the remaining canteens and had therefore announced October 2 as the inauguration date for the remaining 72 canteens.