Indira Canteens to make a comeback, 250 in Bengaluru and more across Karnataka

BENGALURU: The scheme of subsidised canteen facilities of Indira Canteens, which was stopped in 2019 after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had come to power, is all set to make a comeback with chief minister Siddaramaiah asking the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to reopen them with better quality and quantity food being supplied to the common man. But no relaunch date was provided by the CM.
In fact, Siddaramaiah has directed the officials to increase the number of canteens from the previous 198 -- 1 per ward -- to 250 canteens in Bengaluru based on the increase in the number of Palike wards and at locations which have a large floating population.
“I have directed officials to restart the Indira Canteens with one per ward and overall 250 such canteens in Bengaluru. The same will be relaunched across the state as well, and if need be then more will be opened based on the plans drawn up by the local bodies outside the City,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that instructions had been given to officials to prepare a list of locations where more such canteens are required.
The CM directed that the new canteens must be located close to places like schools, colleges, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands and government offices where more floating population is seen, adding that tenders for fresh canteens will be called for at the zonal level in Bengaluru.
To reduce the financial burden on the BBMP, Siddaramaiah also decided to increase the state government share to 50 per cent of the running costs with another 50 per cent being funded by the Palike’s own resources in Bengaluru. Earlier, when it was launched in 2016-17, the government had a share of 30 per cent versus the BBMP’s 70 per cent in running the subsidised canteens.
Further, the CM also said that outside Bengaluru, the government would pay 70 per cent of the running costs for the canteens with 30 per cent being borne by the local bodies.
He said that strict instructions had been given to ensure that both quality and quantity are maintained at these canteens.
“We will be changing even the menu cards and increasing the food quantity being provided in these canteens,” he said.
Earlier, Siddaramaiah during the meeting also said that local MLAs and MLCs should also be invited to these canteens on a regular basis to ensure there is a quality check on the food.