Bengaluru: The state government has decided to stop providing free food at all Indira Canteens across the state. An order, as per Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s decision, was issued in this regard on Friday, April 3.
The food will now be provided at the rates that prevailed before the lockdown was imposed, said a report by TNM.
According to sources, the government reversed its order to provide free food to the poor through the Indira Canteens as it is suspected that the contractors were inflating the outstanding amount in the bills sent to the government.
Sources added that before the lockdown, the token and bill system for every order prevented the billing system from being compromised.
According to TNM, the source said that the government is trying to come up with a fool-proof system that would allow them to continue giving food to the poor for free. Till then, each order will have to be paid.
However, there is no clarity on whether or not the Indira Canteen food will be home delivered to the poor, a programme that was launched on March 24.
It can be recalled that the whole state has been under lockdown for a week. Many daily wage labourers have been finding it difficult to get food as they are out of a job till the lockdown is lifted.