Darshinis (food joints) and streetside food sellers of Bengaluru, who provide food at affordable rates, are becoming jittery about Namma Canteens, which are expected to serve breakfast for ₹5 and lunch/dinner for ₹10. At these prices, the canteens are expected to disrupt the thriving food business.
Namma Canteens are likely to start serving food by June 1, the deadline set by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The civic body has begun working on a war footing to meet the deadline. It has decided to build 198 canteens, one in each ward, using pre-cast concrete technology.
On Friday, the civic body announced a competition for the public to design a logo and layout for Namma Canteens in the next 15 days. It is also identifying government land for the canteens.
Iskcon, the frontrunner
Iskcon has emerged as the frontrunner to cater to Namma Canteens. The Food and Civil Supplies Department is learnt to have had several rounds of talks with Iskcon, which contributes to the mid-day meal scheme, before the announcement was made in the budget speech.
Vasudev Adiga, honorary president, Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association, argued that unlike in Chennai where affordable food is an issue, darshinis have been providing affordable food for decades. “Namma Canteens are uncalled for,” he said.
Says Chandrashekhar Hebbar:“The average cost of two idlis is ₹15 and an anna-sambar meal is available for ₹20 at most of the smaller darshinis. There are close to 2,000 such places in the city. If the government canteen provides food at half these prices, the units will face predatory competition forcing some of them to shut down.”
“At present, 198 seems a small number but, going by the Chennai experience, it will only grow. It will corner a major slice of the food business,” said a concerned senior hotelier.
