Those working for Indira Amma Bhojanalaya near Clock Tower in Dehradun are elated with the new roti-making machine having been provided by MDDA a few days ago. Now, things are proving easy, the workers said.
What the workers have to do now is just putting the dough pieces on the hot plate. “Things are then going on mechanically,” one of them said.
They are now making 16 rotis in a minute. It means they are producing 960 rotis in an hour. The speciality of the machine is that it can produce three types of rotis- missi phulka and tandoori.
Dilip Kumar, the owner of Premnagar- based company that manufactures the machine, said it consumes minimum of cooking gas while working. “It needs 1.5 kg in one hour,” he said. Electricity consumption is also minimal- half a unit per hour, he claimed. The workers said that a single person can also operate the machine. However, two of them are operating it together, they added.
Puja Dwivedi, president of Rajlaxmi, the self- help group that is running the state government- sponsored cheap canteen, said that soon the canteen would be extended. Things are now under construction and they would soon use the next two shops, she said.
“The space would expand for those who wait for their turns. Besides, the space for serving counters would be extended too. Once it is completed we would run the packed food service meant for the senior citizens who are not able to come for meals,” she said.
She further said multi grain (Manduwa) roti has been added to the menu. Janki Mahila (SHG) Gramudhyog is supplying Manduwa to them, she said. Sandhya Bhagirathi (SHG) is supplying spice to them. This is helping those associated with these SHGs, she said.
She said the volume of sale has doubled as compared to the days the canteen started its journey. “We are serving faster now with the roti-making machine having arrived. The number of customers and the food sold would be recorded on computer soon,” Dwivedi said.
The customers also looked happy with things being served fast and quality being maintained. Sl Kaul who came there to lunch for the first time sounded appreciative. “This is the first time I am having lunch here. I am happy. The quality is good while the items being served here are tasty and nutritious. The idea is wonderful. Such canteens should come up everywhere,” he said.