The Backward Classes Welfare Department is planning to give the contract of supplying farm-fresh vegetables and fruits to hostels run by it in taluks to the Horticultural Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (Hopcoms), as it is satisfied with the quality of vegetables supplied to the hostels in the city.
The Hopcoms delivers vegetables to 13 hostels every day in the city.
“Vegetables are supplied based on the orders made by hostels,” said T. Jaware Gowda, District Officer, Department of Backward Classes, Mysore.
He told The Hindu that earlier, there were complaints about the quality of vegetables being used. Wardens had been given the freedom to purchase vegetables and fruits as per the needs of each hostel, he said. In the wake of these complaints, the department consulted Hopcoms, which agreed to supply vegetables directly to hostels without additional delivery charges.
Mr. Gowda said, “There have been no complaints after Hopcoms started supplying vegetables. If vegetables are not purchased, the money set aside will go back to the government. It is up to the hostel wardens to purchase them and provide nutritious food to those in the hostels.” The government spends Rs. 1,000 a month (barring expenses on rice) per person in the hostel and 30 to 40 per cent of the money is spent on vegetables, fruits and eggs. “Door delivery of vegetables at no extra cost is an advantage for us,” he said.
Mr. Gowda said the department asked Hopcoms to supply vegetables and fruits to hostels outside the city.
“Initially, it expressed its inability as it involved reaching out to hostels located in remote areas of the district, but it later agreed to consider the proposal.” The department runs 73 hostels in the district with over 5,000 people. “We have asked the Hopcoms to supply milk and curds as well,” he said.
