In his farewell speech in the Gujarat Assembly before his swearing-in as Prime Minister last year, Narendra Modi had said, “Now in the PMO, Gujarati will be spoken; khaman dhokla and khakhra will be eaten.” A year in office, his dispensation is taking the Gujarati staple beyond the PMO’s contours. The Government is all set to ensure that dhokla and khakhra land in your platter at the departmental canteens of the Union Ministries, beginning next month. The unmistakable thrust is on vegetarianism.
In a new directive, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has asked all canteens operating within the Ministries to follow a specific “vegetarian” list of food menu in order to introduce hygienic and healthy food for the Government officials at work. The new DoPT food chart has suggested sprouts, paav bhaji, shrikhand and desi beverages like nimbu paani, lassi and chaach to develop a habit of for “new and healthy food items” at the canteens of Central Government offices. There’s no place for aerated drinks or even boiled eggs, bread omelets and they have been asked to sell cold drinks in the form of packaged fruit juices.
The Parliament canteen, which also serves to MPs, will, however, continue to have non-vegetarian food items like chicken gravy, fish or non-vegetarian biryani. While dhokla is a traditional Gujarati dish of fermented chickpea batter and rice with nutritional properties, khakhra is similar to north Indian papad, uniquely handmade and roasted to provide a delicious, crunchy and healthy snack.
The DoPT has sent a circular to all the departments for “introduction of these new and ‘healthy’ food items in the departmental canteens located in Central Government offices”. “As a measure of staff welfare, departmental canteens functioning from Central Government offices/establishments are providing beverages, snacks and meals to the employees. An illustrative list of vegetarian items of menu has been provided and in addition to these, departmental canteens may also like to introduce certain healthy/light and nutritious snacks,” the May 28 directive of the Office of Director of Canteens stated.
The stress on vegetarian food is distinctive having been mentioned several times in the circular. It includes vegetable soups, vegetable cutlets, vegetable pakoras, bondas, soya snacks and vegetable upma. The new list also includes milk and mango shakes, Rooh-Afza and at best, cold and hot coffee. Besides the Central Government Ministries, the new food habits will be applicable even at President’s Secretariat and the Supreme Court canteen, which is thronged by thousands of lawyers everyday with vivid food palates.
For physical health, the Modi Government has already announced yoga training session for the babus and their dependants. The session will commence from Monday. The DoPT has tied up with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga to conduct two sessions for officials and their dependants from 5.30 am on all working days at the CGO Complex area.
