By Sandeep Moudgal BENGALURU: In a blow to several women's self-help groups in the state, which were anticipated to have monopoly over canteen services in the districts, the government will revamp the proposed
Savi Ruchi Kaithatu
mobile canteens, in the light of the proposed
Indira Canteens to be opened across all urban local bodies.
According to urban development department (UDD) officials, the government intends to replace
Savi Ruchi
canteens with Indira Canteens, as the latter have been “tried and tested“ in Bengaluru.
However, the Karnataka State Women Development Corporation (KSWDC) has decided to revamp the Savi Ruchi scheme and save it.“We've decided to make Savi Ruchi canteens a business model for SHGs in the state.
The canteens will provide local cuisine at places where Indira Canteens are not located, at a price fixed by the local district federation of SHGs,“ said KSWDC chairperson Bharathi Shankar.
KSWDC said it will fix a boundary for Savi Ruchi can teens, with a minimum of 510km distance to be maintained from Indira canteens.
The government appears to be in no mood to take chances on its populist scheme, with the 2018 polls around the corner.“We are not willing to risk the
quality of food
and timely delivery of canteen facilities with SHGs,“ officials said. However, when tenders are floated for Indira Canteens, women SHGs can compete for the contract,“ said an official.
Officials said several women SHGs are either dormant and run by vested interests or have been “co-opted“ by politicians and political parties.