Bengaluru: Trying to gain an edge over the 'Indira Canteens' to be started by the state government from August 15, ‘Namma Appaji canteens' planned by Janata Dal (Secular) MLC T.A. Sarawana in recognition of the services of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, will start functioning at Hanumanth Nagar in Bengaluru on August 2.
Last month, during the birthday celebrations of Mr Deve Gowda, Mr Sarawana had announced that 'Namma Appaji Canteen' would be started in Bengaluru to feed poor and hungry people. While the state government is scrambling to meet the deadline of August 15 for launching 'Indira Canteen' in all 198 BBMP wards, 'Namma Appaji Canteen' is ready to provide food to the poor.
Mr Sarawana said his canteen will serve breakfast from 7:30 am to 10 am and lunch from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. On the day of inauguration, food would be supplied free of cost to all. The breakfast includes tatte idli, vada, khara bath and kesari bath and would be served at Rs 5 per plate.
The lunch includes ragi balls, soppina saaru, rice and sambar and a variety of rice bath plus happala and is priced at Rs 10 per plate. Coffee/tea is priced at Rs 3.
Mr and Mrs Deve Gowda will open the canteen on 50 feet road, Hanumantha Nagar in Basavanagudi on August 2 at 11 am. When Mr Deve Gowda was prime minister, several star hotels in Delhi had included ragi balls, his favourite food, in their menu.
Plans are afoot to open the canteen in all 27 Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru. A technical team had been appointed to maintain hygiene in the canteen. Besides, a see-through kitchen had been constructed for people to see the food preparation.
Mr Sarawana added that to begin with, Namma Appaji Canteen would only serve breakfast and lunch and depending on the success, dinner would be provided at Rs 10. The required fruits, vegetables, rice, pulses and cereals would be purchased directly from farmers.
