Karnataka government shelves Aiyya canteen initiative; announces night food shelters

BENGALURU: The Amma canteens launched by Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa captured the imagination of an entire nation - a populist venture that provided food at throwaway prices, at a time when ready-to-eat food was becoming increasingly expensive.
Such was the initiative's popularity that the Tamil population in Bengaluru started the Amma canteen for Tamils in the city. Karnataka ministers such as DK Shivakumar even shared pictures of enjoying food at an Amma canteen in TN.
Conceived along the lines of TN's highly successful model, the Aiyya Canteen was an initiative pursued by the Karnataka government to provide the same benefits to the needy and impoverished. However, after two years of dilly dallying - state planning commission chairman CM Ibrahim had even announced the menu - the project has been shelved.
Food and civil supplies minister UT Khader said that the government is now planning to set up night food shelters across all municipal corporations to feed the poor in urban areas.
"The Amma canteens worked only to a certain extent even in TN. By the time, the poor came to these canteens, the food was either empty or only scraps of it were left. The exceptionally low prices of food meant that even those who could afford to eat elsewhere, came to these canteens. We do not intend to pursue the same policy," he said.
The night food shelters that the government is planning to establish will provide access to food for the urban poor, he said. "The shelters will be set up in association with local municipal corporations. They will come up near bus terminals, railway stations and other places. The corporations will give us the locations, and we will set up these shelters there," Khader added. However, the food will be distributed only for a stipulated period of time at night.
The government will now be seeking partnerships with various non-government organisations (NGOs) to establish these shelters, and get them running.
At a review meeting of the food and civil supplies department last week, the proposal for setting up these shelters received the green signal from chief minister Siddaramaiah, who has sought a detailed plan including the cost of the project from Khader.
Will the services be limited only to the poor, or will there be restrictions on others seeking food? Khader said, "Government will not deny food even to people wearing suits, and come into the canteens alighting from expensive cars. The only condition is that they will have stand in the queue to receive food."
Menu (Vegetarian)
Rice, sambar, curry (palya) and pickle
Locations
Corporation limits and multiple locations near bus terminals, railway stations, markets, etc.
Who will supply the food?
While government will fund the initiative, the food will be supplied by NGOs it has partnered with.