Kochi: A more than one-year long old promise of the UDF government to start budget hotels named ‘Thripthi’ in every taluk has not been kept so far.
This was revealed by the civil supplies department in a reply to an RTI query by Human Rights Defence Forum general secretary Adv D.B. Binu.
According to the reply, the promise was given in the 2013-14 Budget, saying that the project would be implemented through self-help groups like Kudumbasree, Janasree and Gruhasree and for each hotel an annual grant of Rs 5 lakh would be given towards electricity and water charges and rent, in addition to Rs 50,000 as managerial subsidy. The proposal was to give meals at the rate of Rs 20 at these eateries.
But so far, not even a single ‘Thripthi’ hotel could be begun, the reply said. The government had also promised to provide vegetables, fish and other provisions to these hotels at fair price through its various agencies. The promise was given to ensure food at fair price to common people, especially workers, the reply revealed without citing any reasons for the delay in implementation.
