Karnataka Cabinet approves opening of 188 new Indira Canteens across state
Bengaluru, Aug 19: The Karnataka Cabinet on Saturday approved opening of 188 new and repairing of 197 existing low-cost Indira Canteens in the urban local body limits across the state other than Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Indira Canteen is the flagship low-cost subsidised food kiosk project of the earlier Siddaramaiah-led government started with an eye on wooing the urban poor, serving breakfast for Rs 5, and lunch/dinner for Rs 10.
''The Cabinet has given approval for the opening of 188 new Indira Canteens in urban local body limits of the state, other than BBMP, and instructions have been given to prepare a DPR (Detailed Project Report) for this.
It has also been directed to set the menu keeping the local cuisine in mind,'' Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said.
Briefing reporters about Cabinet decisions, he said Rs 21.29 crore has been approved for repairing existing 197 Indira Canteens.
The Karnataka Cabinet on Saturday approved opening of 188 new and repairing of 197 existing low-cost Indira Canteens in the urban local body limits across the state other than Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
''Per day cost of food for a person (one breakfast and two meals) in these canteens will be Rs 62, of which Rs 25 (one breakfast and two meals) will be borne by the public, and Rs 37 by the government,'' he added.
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Bill to set up single higher education regulator likely to be tabled in Parliament next week
New Delhi (PTI): A Bill which seeks to set up a single regulator for institutions of higher education is required to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing, officials said.
The Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week after it got the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday.
The proposed legislation, which was earlier christened the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, has now been named Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
A single higher education regulator, which was proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP), looks to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
"The Bill proposes to set up a Higher Education Commission of India to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing institutions and to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy. It is likely to be introduced (in Parliament) in the coming week," an official said.
While the UGC presently oversees non-technical higher education in the country, the AICTE oversees technical education, while the NCTE is the regulatory body for teachers' education.
The Commission is proposed to be set up as a single higher education regulator, but medical and law colleges will not be brought under its ambit.
It is proposed to have three major roles -- regulation, accreditation and setting professional standards, officials said.
Funding, which is seen as the fourth vertical, is not proposed to be under the regulator so far. The autonomy for funding is proposed to be with the administrative ministry, they said.
