Mangaluru, July 13: The Congress government's ambitious Indira Canteen project is about to complete one year of its journey. In the Dakshina Kannada canteens, high-quality food is being provided at the lowest price. With this, the canteens in the districts have become a model for the state.

While there have been complaints regarding the delay in the launching of the project and supply of poor quality food at various places in the state, the five Indira canteens of Dakshina Kannada, located at Lady Goshen near State Bank, Urwa Store near Mangaluru Urban Development Authority, Kavuru, Thokkottu, and Surathkal; are giving high performance.

Indira Canteen Project successful

If the quality of food, cleanliness, and staff in these five canteens is observed; there is no doubt that these canteens have a distinguishing factor compared to others in the state.

In the canteens across the state, food is being provided as per the respective food culture of the particular regions. Even in the coastal region, Kuchalakki (Parboiled rice) is being served especially. White rice is also being supplied.

More than 7,000 people are visiting the five canteens in the district daily to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since there are many government offices, hospitals and markets in Lady Goshen; a large number of people are visiting the canteen there. However, in contrast to this, the number of beneficiaries at Thokkottu canteen is meager.

Massive ‘Mother Kitchen’ at Urwa Store

A massive 'Mother Kitchen' has been established at Indira Canteen at Urwa store near Muda. The food is being transported from here to remaining four canteens for three times in a day. Around 29 staff members are working in the mother kitchen. The contract of the food supply has been given to Sai Hospitality Services.

No health officer is appointed to check the food safety at the canteens. However, a health officer voluntarily visits the canteens and examines the quality of food.

Soon to begin at Pumpwell

The canteen constructed in Pumpwell will soon be inaugurated. The inauguration was withheld in the view of election code of conduct. ‘The canteen will begin to serve people from next week,’ the DC has replied to an MMC letter.

The Indira Canteen built in Pumpwell will soon be inaugurated.

- Mohammad Nazeer, Commissioner, MMC

I come for dinner at Urwa Store Indira Canteen every day. The quality of food is high here.

Suresh, beneficiary

Fast food shops face no problem by the supply of food at Indira Canteens. It is helpful for many. We have our customers.

-Nagaraj, owner of a fast food shop at State Bank

More people are visiting Indira canteen day by day. Indira Canteens are already functioning in Thokkottu, Lady Goshen, Urwa Store, Surathkal, and Kavoor. Soon, an Indira Canteen will be opened at Pumpwell.

- Prabhakar Shetty, Managing Director of Sai Hospitality Services



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New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues mounted a "furious attack" on Indira Gandhi for the 42nd Amendment but they did not mention that she, along with other Congress MPs, voted in favour of the 44th Amendment which removed a number of provisions introduced through the 42nd Amendment, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday.

Ramesh pointed out that the PM and his colleagues also did not mention the fact that many of the provisions of the 42nd Amendment have been retained ever since it was enacted almost half a century ago.

"During the discussion on the Constitution, the PM and his colleagues mounted a furious attack on Indira Gandhi for the 42nd Amendment that was passed by Parliament in December 1976," he said in a post on X.

"What they did not mention was that Indira Gandhi herself, along with other Congress MPs, then voted in favour of the 44th Amendment in December 1978, when Morarji Desai was PM," he said.

The words "socialist" and "secular" were inserted into the Preamble to the Constitution under the 42nd constitutional amendment moved by the Indira Gandhi government in 1976.

The amendment changed the description of India in the Preamble from a "sovereign, democratic republic" to a "sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic".

Ramesh said the 44th Amendment removed a number of provisions introduced through the 42nd Amendment.

"The PM and his colleagues also did not mention the fact that many of the provisions of the 42nd Amendment have been retained ever since it was enacted almost half a century ago," the Congress leader said.

Ramesh pointed out that the provisions of the 42nd Amendment include the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble that have been recently held by the Supreme Court to be part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

They include Article 39-A that provides for equal justice and free legal aid and Article 43-A that provides for participation of workers in management of industries, Ramesh said.

The provisions retained also include Article 48-A that provides for protection and improvement of the environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife, he said.

They also include Article 51-A that lists 11 fundamental duties of citizens and Articles 323-A and 323-B that provide for administrative and other tribunals, he said.

Inclusion of education, population planning, environment, and forests in the Seventh Schedule, i.e., the Concurrent list that gives responsibility to both the Union and state governments was also retained, Ramesh said.

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha held a two-day debate on the "Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India" earlier this month that saw acrimonious exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches.