BENGALURU: It will be a Happy New Year in the true sense for millions of poor in the state, this January 1, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to launch about 300 more Indira Canteens across every district and taluk.
Indira Canteens, which are being opened in all the 198 BBMP wards in Bengaluru, have proven to be a hit and the CM’s resolve to open them in all taluks in the election year is being seen as a vote booster for the ruling party. With the addition of 300 more, the number of Indira Canteens will be 500 in the state, Siddaramaiah said speaking at a programme to celebrate the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi here on Sunday.
Indira Canteens have addressed the food security needs of the poor. The programme is a result of the inspiration from Indira Gandhi’s commitment for ‘Garibi Hatao’ (eradicate poverty) and would enable the government to make Karnataka hunger-free, Siddaramaiah said. Recalling Indira’s welfare programmes for the poor, Siddaramaiah said, while Indira Gandhi nationalised the banks for economic empowerment of the poor, the present Narendra Modi government has closed doors of banks for the poor through demonetisation.
BSY, Shobha, KSE unfit for politics
Launching an attack on the BJP, Siddaramaiah cautioned the people against voting BJP back to power. “BJP is trying to come back to power by inciting communal violence. Congress workers should be vigilant against it,” he said and urged the Congress workers to take welfare programmes of his government to the doors of people.
BJP leaders B S Yeddyurappa, Shobha Karandlaje, K S Eshwarappa and union minister Ananth Kumar Hegde are unfit for politics. “BJP leaders are inhuman, they have wicked mentality. They are pseudo ideologists and dividing the society is their job. Uniting the society, fostering social harmony is our job,” Siddaramaiah said.
Now, you can weigh food at Indira Canteens
Public can make use of weighing machines installed at Indira Canteens in case of any suspicions regarding the quantity of food served, said Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner, N Manjunath Prasad on Sunday. He was speaking after conducting a surprise check in the Indira Canteen at Radhakrishna Temple Ward. During the inspection, he interacted with the Canteen staff, measured the quantity of food being served and checked the safety and quality parameters being followed there. Following the inspection, he said that the quantity of each item being dispatched to every Indira canteen is being weighed on an electronic weighing machine which is under CCTV surveillance. Moreover, the same is photographed through the recently developed mobile app and this information is uploaded to BBMP portal immediately. The same procedure is being followed after the receipt of food at the canteens, he said.