BENGALURU: The government is planning to hand over management of Indira Canteens in Bengaluru to Iskcon’s Akshaya Patra Foundation, which runs the midday meal scheme for children in schools.
Complaints have been pouring in on the poor quality of food served by agencies which currently manage the canteens and with their contracts set to end in August, the government is planning a change in management. It is hoping Iskcon will serve quality food without increasing input costs.
“It’s just an idea we have floated, but a proper proposal has not been made as yet,” said Gaurav Gupta, chief commissioner, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
However, a senior officebearer from Akshaya Patra Foundation said the government has already proposed to hand over the canteens to Iskcon, and a decision will be taken at an appropriate time as the organisation is working on the proposal.
In the budget presented recently, BBMP had earmarked Rs 60 crore for Indira Canteens, which were staring at closure due to a lack of funds. Within BBMP limits, there are 174 fixed and 24 mobile canteens.
Further stoking specula tion on the issue, a delegation from Iskcon led by Chanchalapathi Dasa, vice-chairman, Akshaya Patra Foundation, on Friday met chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and invited him to an event at the temple in July.
