Rahul Gandhi Inaugurates Indira Canteen in Bengaluru, Meal to Cost Rs 10

More such canteens will be opened in the remaining 97 wards from October 2 to mark the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.

Bengaluru, August 16: Karnataka will have its own subsidised canteen in 101 civic wards across Bengaluru which will provide food at affordable rates to the labour class and poor migrants. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi inaugurated Indira Canteen in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

In the initial phase, 101 canteens will daily serve vegetarian tiffin (breakfast) at Rs 5 per plate and meals for lunch and dinner at Rs 10 each in 101 civic wards. More such canteens will be opened in the remaining 97 wards from October 2 to mark the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. “We will also open similar canteens in other cities and towns across the state after studying their pros and cons and its benefit to the poor people in the city,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.

Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, provided Rs 100 crore in the state budget for this fiscal (2017-18) to run the canteens in all the 198 civic wards on the lines of the popular “Amma” canteens in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Addressing a gathering of about 8,000 people at the Field Marshal Manekshaw parade ground on the occasion of 71st Independence Day, Siddaramaiah said pulses (tur dal) was also being supplied at a subsidised rate.

The efficacy of the Anna Bhagya Yojana is evident by the fact that despite the southern state reeling under drought over the last four years, no death occurred due to hunger and migration of labour as none of them went to sleep on an empty stomach.

“As our hearts beat for lactating mothers and pregnant women, we serve them mid-day meals daily free under the Mathru Poorna Yojana. It (scheme) will be extended to all child care centres (anganwadis) across the state from October 2 to cover 12 lakh of them,” said Siddaramaiah.

Similarly, 1.08 crore school children are served free mid-day meals daily, with milk for five days a week and eggs twice a week to ensure their nutritional needs.

With inputs from Agencies