After Bengaluru, Indira Canteens to be opened in other parts of Karnataka

After Bengaluru, Indira Canteens to be opened in other parts of Karnataka

Bengaluru (TNN): The Karnataka cabinet on Wednesday decided to extend the Indira Canteen facility to other parts of the state having a population of one lakh or above from January 1, 2018. The move comes barely three months before the assembly elections.

These canteens will be setup in governments hospitals, bus stands or railway stations where the footfall of the poor and needy is higher.

Accordingly, 121 locations outside Bengaluru have been chosen where 246 Indira Canteens will start functioning from January.

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, law minister TB Jayachandra said the cabinet has set three deadlines for the urban development department and the local bodies to set up these canteens in the state.

These include a November 17 deadline to identify the locations for the canteens, December 17 for completion of the infrastructure and awarding of contracts to serve meals and January 1 2018 for the launch.

Jayachandra said about Rs 9 crore will be required each month, as running cost, to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Jayachandra said the government has sanctioned Rs 185 crore for the project.

The cabinet has also decided to give the under privileged two-burner gas stove and two refills of LPG cylinder under chief minister’s Anila Bhagya Scheme apart from the initial LPG connection free of cost.

“While the Centre is expected to cover eight lakh homes of the 28 lakh households with no LPG connection in the state, there will still be 20 lakh households pending to be covered in Karnataka.

We intend to cover at least 10 lakh houses under this scheme by March 2018,” said Jayachandra.

The government is expected to spend Rs 4,040 crore for the scheme.

The cabinet has also decided to launch Punara Belaku (re-lighting) scheme for people who surrender their allotted amount of one litre of kerosene per month meant for BPL card holders.

“Under the scheme, we will provide two rechargeable LED lanterns .to these households,” Jayachandra said.