For not using onion, garlic, Iskcon may lose Indira canteen order

The state government, which held talks with Iskcon for supply of food at the proposed ‘Indira canteens’, is now speaking to hoteliers’ associations also.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader told reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday that Iskcon had the reputation of providing high quality food and has not been dropped off the suppliers list but the government is keeping all options open.

Official sources said Iskcon expressing its inability to add onion and garlic in its preparations is the main reason for the government looking for other options. Asked to comment, Khader only said the canteens are for poor, labourers, rural students, who like onion and garlic in their food.

Khader said the government has told the hoteliers’ associations and non-governmental organisations to indicate the quantity and ingredients that will be going into the food preparations.

While Khader did not specify a time-frame as to when the canteens will be opened, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, at a function later in the day, said it will be launched in about two months.

The state government has announced in its budget proposal for 2017-18 its intention to open Indira canteens in each of the 198 wards of the BBMP to serve  breakfast, lunch and dinner at an affordable price.

Khader said the government is looking at possibility of food being prepared in a centralised place in every Assembly constituency and later supply to the canteens in the wards coming under its jurisdiction.

“The quality of food will be better than that served in Amma canteens in Tamil Nadu,” the minister said.

Initially, the food supply will be limited. Food will be served for the first 200 to 250 people (each for breakfast, lunch and dinner) who order at the canteens. The canteens will open early in the day to cater to students, labourers and office goers.