Indira Amma Canteen is bringing joy in the life of many underprivileged women as it is fast spreading its wings in tune with its ascending popularity. The canteen has engaged some women to prepare and deliver lunch- boxes. They are members of an all-women self- help group-Sarv Shakti Sahayata- which has been formed recently.
Raj lakshmi, the self- help group, which has been running the state government-sponsored subsidized canteen, is all set to start delivery of packed lunch service on November 19,, to mark the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after whom the canteen was named.
Jhangora Kheer, the popular traditional food of Uttarakhand, is also being served at Indira Amma Canteen these days to the delight of the customers.
Puja Dwivedi, president of Raj lakshmi SHG, said that 'Arsa' that had been distributed to the customers before Diwali was highly appreciated. "Many came to order the same. But we were unable to take any order as we are waiting for the authentication letter from the state government to regularly start distributing it," she said, adding that it would take a few more days.
According to Radha Raturi, Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Jhangora Kheer will be a fixed item of the menu once sufficient volume of milk is arranged for the canteen. "The milk being supplied to the canteen by the Anchal Dairy these days is not sufficient for the purpose. Once the canteen starts receiving sufficient milk the kheer would be made a daily item," she said.
A member of the SHG running the canteen said they have been serving Jhangora Kheer for Rs 10. " But the rate would be revised at Rs15 soon. This is a compulsion as we failed to reach even the break- even point," she added. Women members of Durga Shakti self- help group are coming to the Canteen nowadays to clean the rice of the pebbles mixed with it. "They are receiving Rs25 per hour each which makes up to Rs4000-Rs4500 per month," she added.
On the day of Diwali around 312 people came to eat there. The number has come down to 250 to 300 now. This is because of many of the regular customers, particularly those working in the nearby markets and the students having gone home for Diwali, said one of the canteen workers.