After egg-rice lunch, Maa Canteen patrons seek maach-bhaat date

Kolkata: Following chief minister Suvendu Adhikari’s announcement of “maach-bhaat” for Rs 5 at Maa canteens twice a week, people have started enquiring about when the new menu will be introduced. Those running the heavily subsidised canteens across the city stated that the rice and fish meal is likely to be started from Monday, even though they have not received any official date of its rollout.

Usually, these canteens operate from 11.30am to 2pm every day. During a visit to the canteens in different parts of the city, TOI found that the beneficiaries were curious to know when they will be served the new menu. Rupali Haldar, who serves food to about hundred beneficiaries at a Maa canteen at Kasba, said: “Since new schemes like Annapurna Yojana and free commute of women in state buses are slated to come into effect from next month, we assume that we will provide fish to the beneficiaries around the same time.”

Jamuna Sardar, works as a domestic help in Kasba and commutes from Lakshmikantapur daily, said: “Eating meal at a Maa canteen for Rs 5 is the most convenient option for me. The quantity of meal is sufficient and I am eagerly waiting to know when I will get fish. In market, fish is so expensive that poor people like us cannot afford to have it,” she said.

Manju Jha, a resident of Baruipur and a beneficiary of a Maa canteen near SSKM Hospital, added: “I depend on this scheme for my meal and I am asking them (food distributors) daily if they know when fish will be on our platter. We are all looking forward to it.”

According to Ganesh Das, who runs the canteen on Harish Mukherjee Road, the community kitchens have started talking to fish vendors at different markets like Maniktala, Dum Dum and others. “A substantial amount of fish needs to be procured for feeding hundreds of beneficiaries twice a week. Till now, we don’t know the exact date when it will be rolled out,” he said.

At present, Bengal has about 367 Maa canteens feeding people of lower income groups with rice, dal, vegetables and boiled egg for Rs 5. Community kitchens, cooperative societies and NGOs cook the food and distribute it to the canteens run by self-help groups.

In 2021, former CM Mamata Banerjee had come up with the Maa scheme, and the govt had allocated Rs 100 crore for it five years ago. While the beneficiaries pay Rs 5 for their meals, the govt provides Rs 15 subsidy now. A state official said: “The govt subsidy is also set to rise once fish is introduced. The procurement cost will be more as compared to that of eggs. Though there is no exact date of its rollout, the new menu is likely to be introduced next month.”

After change of power, about 50 Maa canteens have shut down across the state. At a time when uncertainty was looming large over the sustenance of these canteens, the CM’s announcement of rice and fish platters came as a huge relief for thousands. Ashok Mandal, a beneficiary, said: “I work in a shop at Gariahat. I used to get meal at the canteen that is now closed. So, I have to ride my bicycle to Kasba for the same meal. I request the new govt to open the canteens that have closed down.”