Bengaluru: On one hand the construction of Indira canteen has been progressing at snail’s pace while on the other the locations chosen for establishing these canteens have come in for sharp criticism.
The one proposed at Ejipura is located close to a garbage dump and segregation point on the Koramangala 80 feet road. It is surrounded by mounds of garbage with garbage trucks and compactors parked nearby. Hence hygiene would be a major concern, said Mahalakshmi Parthasarathy, Secretary, Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF). Although these canteens will supply highly subsidized food, hygiene should be given utmost priority, she added.
Many parts of the city, especially Ejipura, is notorious for water borne diseases such as gastroenteritis and diarrhea, because of uncleared dark spots. Citizens must have a clean surrounding to have a meal peacefully, she said.
Just because citizens pay mere Rs 5 does not mean they should not be made to eat near garbage dumps, shantys or unhygienic surroundings. Government must aim at making it a pleasant and hygienic place, apart from serving hygienic food, she added. Indira canteen as a concept is very commendable initiative and basic requirement for welfare of the state. Government’s mid- day meal scheme has attracted criticism. The Indira canteen should not ape the mid day meals, but follow the hygiene standards that Akshaya Patra has been maintaining apart from scaling up their services, Parthasarathy said. The government should have taken the public to confidence while deciding on location for Indira Canteen. If that was done, then controversies such as razing down church, library and heritage structures for building these canteens could have been avoided.
The canteens could also have been taken up on Public Private Partnership (PPP) by involving philanthropists who wish to be part of it by giving land. The government could also have roped in software giants and it would have helped the blue collar workers, she suggested. Manoj Rajan, Special Commissioner, BBMP, who's in charge of the Indira Canteen project, said that he was not aware of the location at the Ejipura.
However, he assured that he would look into it and emphasized on the need for a clean and hygienic surroundings. The standard operating procedure will be followed and there will be no compromise on quality and hygiene. After inspecting the place, the garbage dump will be shifted, he assured.
