Recently-inaugurated Indira Amma canteen situated at the Doon Hospital premises is facing space crunch, something that is making the customers to wait for their turns in case the seats are found filled. The canteen has seats for around 25 people to have food at a time, a number that is not sufficient for the rising number of the customers thronging it to have lunch.
Puja Tomar, president of Saraswati Jagriti, a self-help group, which is managing the cheap State Government-sponsored canteen, said the members, though now beset with problems, are slowly learning the art of managing the canteen better.
“On the first two days, we faced problems because of the heavy utensils we had to lift. We were not comfortable with the task. But, of course, we are adapting ourselves to the requirements. Another problem we are facing is the space constraint. Just 25 people can have food here at a time. The number being on the rise, the problem is compounding for us as well as for the customers. Besides, a section of the people having food here is leaving their plates on the tables after they complete eating. Many are found gurgling at the area where drinking water is being kept,” she said, recounting the problems they are facing in running the canteen.
She added that a major section of the daily customers are the patients and their relatives, the doctors and the students of the Doon Hospital. “On the first day- November 20-, around 360 people came. The number rose up to around 500 the following day and further to 680 the day after. We are giving the 5th chapatti when asked for,” she added.
However, another Indira Amma canteen that opened the same day-November 19- at Transport Nagar is getting a better response. Around 850 people came for the lunch on the second day while 950 came on the third. On November 23, over 1000 people visited the canteen for meal, said Deepa, secretary of the Sarfeena, a self-help group which is managing the canteen.
“People irrespective of classes, including the private company employees and truck drivers, are visiting the canteen daily,” she added.