Indira Canteen Initiative Faces Multiple Challenges in Providing Affordable Meals to Urban Poor in Bengaluru
Indira Canteen was launched in Bengaluru, India in 2017, with the aim of providing low-cost meals to the urban poor. The initiative was named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and it was an instant hit among the city's residents.
BaluSingh Rajpurohit 
Bengaluru : Indira Canteen was launched in Bengaluru, India in 2017, with the aim of providing low-cost meals to the urban poor. The initiative was named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and it was an instant hit among the city's residents. However, four years later, the scheme is facing several challenges that threaten its sustainability.
One of the primary issues is the cost of running the canteens. The government subsidizes the food, which means that the canteens are not profitable. This has led to financial losses and a shortage of funds to maintain the canteens' infrastructure and equipment.
Another challenge facing the Indira Canteen is the quality of food. In recent years, there have been reports of poor hygiene standards and low-quality food being served at the canteens. This has led to a loss of public trust in the initiative.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the Indira Canteen's operations. The canteens had to shut down during the lockdown, and even after reopening, footfall has been low. This has further impacted the canteens' financial viability.
To address these challenges, the government is exploring several options. One possibility is to increase the prices of the meals to cover the cost of operations. However, this could make the food unaffordable for many of the people the canteens are designed to serve. The government is also considering partnering with private companies to improve the quality of food and infrastructure.
In conclusion, the Indira Canteen initiative is facing several challenges that threaten its sustainability. However, the government is committed to finding solutions to these issues and ensuring that the canteens continue to serve the city's urban poor.
