The Karnataka government announced on May 11 the distribution of free food to the needy, three times a day from May 12 till May 24, amid the lockdown. All Indira Canteens in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner free of charge to citizens belonging to low-income groups, including migrants in the city. Apart from home cooks and NGOs providing free meals to the needy amid the lockdown, Indira Canteens will also join the cause.
Bangalore’s Indira Canteens To Provide Free Meals To Needy During Lockdown
In order to ensure the needy in Bangalore receive three meals a day, the Karnataka government has announced that all Indira Canteens in BBMP limits and other districts shall receive free food from May 12 till the end of the lockdown, May 24. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided free of cost to low-income groups including migrants. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa stated, “To ease hardships that come with the strict restrictions, three free meals will be made available to the poor, migrants and workers in need, at Indira Canteens in Bengaluru and across the state till May 24.”
Three Meals Per Day To Be Served To Underprivileged
According to The Indian Express, Municipal Administration Minister N Nagaraju stated that the breakfast charges of ₹5, lunch and dinner cost of ₹10 will be waives off to migrant workers, street vendors and labourer till the end of the lockdown to help them. He also added that officials shall supervise the process and review the situation daily. Indira Canteen commenced operations in Bangalore on August 15, 2018, drawing inspiration from Tamil Nadu’s Amma Canteens. Beneficiaries at Indira Canteen must show their identity card like Aadhar card, DL, labour identification or voter ID to procure meals. A statement issued by BBMP reveals that each person must wear a mask and maintain social distancing while queueing up for the food parcels. Each individual will receive a maximum of three food packets each. This is estimated to sustain the family.