Congress’ ambitious Indira Canteen, which aimed to provide hygienic meals at affordable rates in Karnataka, may soon shut doors. Since last seven months, HD Kumaraswamy-led Karnataka government has not released any money for the Indira Canteens, forcing Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to shell out money to continue the subsidised food.
In Mysuru, too, Mysuru City Corporation has not reimbursed bills since May this year, apparently because the funds have been diverted to farm loan waiver scheme. As per reports, after the state assembly elections this year, the MCC has not cleared the bills of the company which operates the canteens. As per reports, owing to the farm loan waiver schemes, many popular schemes of the previous government have been affected.
Rahul Gandhi had inaugurated the Jayalalitha’s Amma Canteen inspired ambitious Indira Canteen program which aimed to serve hygienic meals at affordable rates in Karnataka in August 2017. Within days of the inauguration, allegations of food shortage and unhygienic cooking emerged. A few months later, the Karnataka Labour Forum lodged a complaint with the DCP of anti-corruption bureau alleging a scam in Indira Canteen’s management. A former BJP corporator, N R Ramesh has also accused former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Bengaluru Development Minister K J George of being involved in a scam during the construction of these canteens.
