Chief Minister Harish Rawat launched an Indira Amma Canteen at the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttakhand ltd (SIIDCUl) at Selaqui on Saturday.
Though it will be similar to the other three canteens inaugurated earlier in the city the only difference will be that it is going to be a non- subsidised canteen unlike the three others. Whereas the other three canteens are being run on the subsidy provided by the State government this one at SIIDCUl at Selaqui, though bearing the same name, will be run sans the subsidy. It is the joint venture of SIIDCUl and Uttarakhand Industrial Welfare Association, Selaqui.
While inaugurating the canteen, CM said that the canteen would provide nutritious, fresh and home- like cooked food to the people other than providing employment to the women involved in the project. “The objective is the same-to provide the poor people as well as the labourers quality food at nominal rates,” he said while exhorting the people to engage in more and more farming with the state government being committed to reaching the produce to the markets.
Geeta Maurya, president of Shakti, a self- help group which is managing the canteen at SIIDCUl , Selaqui, said that at present 13 women are working for the canteen. “Earlier, the group was engaged in catering services and Take Home Ration. later, we applied for Indira Amma Canteen and it was granted with us getting a chance to work at SIIDCUl. Apart from preparing the food at Indira Amma Canteen at SIIDCCUl, we will start giving packed meal to the colleges as the students here are not getting good quality food they need. As it is an industrial area our target is fixed at from 2500 to 3000 plates per day,” she said.
She further said that the rate for per plate is `25-`5 more than what is the rate in the other subsidised canteens. “However, Jhangora Kheer would cost the same her as it does at the other three canteens in the city,” she added. The canteen will open at 11 am and the closing time will be 4 pm, she said. “We are happy with the CM’s appreciation of the food being served here on the first day,” she said, adding that around 360 people have taken food on the maiden day of the canteen’s career. Suman Rawat, one of the workers from the Shakti SHG, said that they are grateful having been given a chance by the State government and SIIDCUl to run the Indira Amma Canteen.
SIIDCUl managing director , Rajesh Kumar said that in the first week SIIDCUl will be providing materials to the SHG. “later, they will manage thing on their own. As there is no subsidy for the SHG here we have kept the price of the plate a bit higher at `25,” he said.