In a bid to woo voters for the upcoming Assembly elections in 2018, the Karnataka government is now planning to set up 500 Indira Canteens across Karnataka by the end of December.
In the 2017-18 budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced the establishment of only 198 Indira Canteens, and had set aside Rs 100 crore for the project.
The Karnataka government has now decided to add 300 more canteens, which are going to be located in all district headquarters. These are slated to be inaugurated by the end of December or early January.
Each district headquarters will have 15 canteens, and the government is planning to increase the number based on the success rate. The state’s Urban Development Department has been put in charge of the construction of these canteens.
Also, the subsidised canteens will cost the state government Rs 89 lakh per day. According to a report in the New Indian Express, the 500 Indira Canteens which are to be set up include those in BBMP limits.
According to BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad, the Palike is spending Rs 32 lakh per day to serve food to 1.4 lakh people. He also said that the cost may increase to Rs 35 lakh per day when all 198 canteens are set up across Bengaluru.“The Karnataka government has spent Rs 100 crore on the construction of the Indira Canteens, the centralised kitchens and the equipment used. This is only for the canteens within BBMP limits,” he said.
Currently, breakfast is being served at Rs 5, while lunch and dinner cost Rs 10.
According to Manoj Ranjan, Special Commissioner for BBMP in-charge of Indira Canteens, the revenue earned for the three meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner is Rs 25. The catering service for Indira Canteens in Bengaluru has been provided to RR Caterers, who are based out of JC Nagar in Bengaluru.
“The caterer is currently getting Rs 57 per day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The government is paying the bidder an additional Rs 32 per day for breakfast, lunch and dinner per person. The government is planning to increase the cost per day for 198 canteens to Rs 57 lakh,” he added
Although the menus for these canteens have not yet been finalised, the government is mulling over different menus for different regions of the state.
As of now, the government is planning on jolada rotti (jowar rotis) for the canteens in North Karnataka, while fish curry is on the cards for the coastal areas. Ragi mudde has been listed for Mysuru, Mandya and Hassan region.
“We are trying to design the menus keeping in mind the staple food of the locals in different districts,” a source with the said.