Uttarakhand / Dehradun : Crisis on common man’s canteen, plan dying in capital Dehradun itself

Indira Amma Bhojan Yojana, started to provide cheap and hygienic food to the common man, seems to be dying in Dehradun city itself. Out of the five Indira Amma Bhojanalayas (canteens) built under this scheme in the Municipal Corporation area, one canteen built in Doon Hospital has been completely closed. Whereas, the operators are finding it difficult to run four other subsidized canteens.

Used to be available for Rs 20. Indira Amma Thali
In the previous Congress government, in the year 2015, during the tenure of the then Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the scheme to provide Indira Amma Thali for 20 rupees was started. Under this, Indira Amma Canteen was started at MDDA Complex, Secretariat, ISBT Transport Nagar, Vikas Bhawan Survey Chowk and Doon Hospital located at Ghantaghar in Dehradun Municipal Corporation area. The women self-help groups were given the responsibility of running these canteens.

The canteen located in the secretariat was operated without subsidy. Whereas in the rest of the canteen, the customer had to pay Rs 20 per plate and Rs 10 as subsidy on each plate is provided to the canteen operator by the state government.

Difficult for canteen operators to run canteen
A few months after the BJP government was formed in the state, various canteens were handed over to other self-help groups through tenders. Canteen operators are finding it difficult to run the canteen due to non-receipt of subsidized budget on time. Operators say that after the Corona period and due to rising inflation, it is now becoming difficult to provide a plate for 20 rupees. The canteen at Doon Hospital was closed even before the Corona period, now a store has been built in its place.

Similarly, customers are getting less in MDDA Complex Ghantaghar, Vikas Bhawan and Transport Nagar ISBT. Farzana of Dhara Sanstha, which runs a canteen located at Vikas Bhavan, said that after Corona, customers are also coming less. Now it is becoming difficult to run a canteen at Rs 20 per plate due to increase in the cost of commercial cylinders, food and other things. At the same time, Seema, the director of the canteen located in the Secretariat, said that since the beginning, the canteens are running on non-subsidy basis. Earlier it was Rs 30 per plate, now due to increase in inflation, it has been increased to Rs 40 per plate.

It was characteristic

• Four rotis, rice, pulses, vegetables, chutney or pickle in a plate of 20 rupees. In this, two rotis are also made. For taking kheer or extra roti-rice, extra rupees have to be paid.
• One day in a week, the whole hill plate, which includes chutney, Manduve ki roti, Jhangore kheer etc.
• Local products were getting good publicity and market earlier through Indira Amma Canteen.