Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 13: The state government has decided to distribute food free of cost to workers, weaker sections of the society etc who are facing a lot of problems because of coronavirus infection, through Indira canteens. However, the Indira canteens located in the city and outskirts had not opened on 'Wednesday May 12.

The Indira canteens located at Urwa Store, Lady Goschen, Pumpwell, Kavoor, Surathkal and Thokottu have remained closed after the announcement of the lockdown.

Indira canteen in Mangaluru (file photo)

During the last lockdown, the city corporation had obtained about 9,000 food parcels from Indira canteen for about ten days for distribution to people. That bill has not been paid so far. The monthly bill amount which the government has to disburse to Indira canteens has not been disbursed for the last some months. Therefore, these canteens face financial problems, those who took the canteen on tender stated.

The canteens, besides facing financial crisis, also are concerned about ensuring the safety of the canteen workers. About 50 workers have to come to the canteen from different places and bringing them and dropping them off poses lot of problems. The contractors said that they have explained these things to the city corporation officials.

Santhosh Kumar, deputy commissioner of the city corporation here, stated that as per the government order, free food and breakfast will be made available in the Indira canteens located within the corporation limits from 6 am to 9 pm beginning from May 13. He said that discussions in this regard were held with the manager who manages the canteens.