Parliamentarians can now get a 3-course meal for Rs 90 instead of Rs 61 in canteen

At long last, a decision has been taken by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to do way with subsidy in the parliament canteen, an RTI query had briught out the fact that the Parliament canteen facility had received a total subsidy of Rs 60.7 crore during the last five years.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 31 December 2015.

As indicated in a statement from Lok Sabha secretariat, the canteen will henceforth operate on 'no-profit, no-loss' basis from January 1. Therefore, new rates have been announced -
(i) a veg thali which earlier cost Rs 18 will now be sold for Rs 30
(ii) non-veg thali will cost Rs 60 instead of Rs 33 earlier
(iii) a three-course meal will cost Rs 90 instead of Rs 61 earlier
(iv) and chicken curry, which earlier cost Rs 29, will be sold for Rs 40.
The hike in rates is because of controversies from time to time over subsidized food being served in Parliament when there is so much inflation in open market. The decision is based on a report by Parliament's Food Committee, which had been asked to look into the matter of canteen subsidy by the Speaker. This revision has been undertaken after six years and the rates will continue to be reviewed from time to time.
The rate hike will apply to MPs, officials of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, media persons, security personnel apart from visitors.

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Embarrassed Members of Parliament feel canteen subsidy can be stopped

The subject of canteen subsidy for Members of Parliament who have assets worth crores of rupees had come up for severe criticism from all quarters. The revelation was a result of an RTI and, embarrassed MPs feel that the subsidy can be done away with.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 5 July 2015.

Incidentally, in the 16th Lok Sabha (current one), in the 543 member-house, 449 members have assets worth Rs 1 crore or more. This is up from 315 in 2009 while in 2004, there were just 156 ‘crorepati’ MPs. An indication of how our Members of Parliament have prospered within the last 10-years, irrespective of their party affiliations.
The MPs had been gorging on cheap food at the Parliament House canteen and many of them now feel that the incident had given them a bad publicity.
The RTI query had recently brought to light the fact that the government faced a loss of around Rs. 14 crore (over $2 million) in 2013-14 because of subsidy at the more than half-a-dozen canteens in the parliament complex.
As things stand, an MP can sit down for a three-course lunch at the parliament canteen for just Rs 38 which in unthinkable in any eatery outside.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Mangoes are forever

Ripe mangoes and mango cakes or amsatta

Parliament Canteen serves crunchy masala dosa for Rs 6 to our millionaire MPs

Based on the reply provided to RTI activist Subhash Agrawal, it has been revealed that our Parliamentarians enjoy their food and snacks for a pittance, thanks to the highly subsidized food being served to our beloved millionaire MPs in the Parliament Canteen.
This has been reported in zeenews.com dated 24 June 2015.

A few examples - crisp fish fry with chips comes at Rs 25 – it carries with it subsidy of 63 percent.
Mouthwatering mutton curry is available for Rs 20 – its subsidy is 67 percent.
Mutton cutlet for Rs 18 – subsidy is 65 percent.
Crunchy masala dosa for Rs 6 – subsidy of 75 percent.
Boiled vegetables for as little as Rs 5 – subsidy of 83 percent.
Raw items required to prepare a dish of stewed vegetables comes about Rs 41.25 – our MPs get for only Rs 4 - a subsidy of about 90 percent.
Raw items for non veg meals are procured for Rs 99.05 – the prepared dish is served at Rs 33 to MPs with 66 percent subsidy.
All this may be unbelievable but very much true. When the common man is trying hard and cutting corners to get his daily necessities, and when soaring prices of meat, fish and vegetables have made these dishes go beyond the purchasing powers of a commoner, our Parliamentarians are savoring these for a pittance.
Interestingly, the rates were last revised on December 20, 2010.
The canteens are run by the Northern Railway and they purchase raw items from government-run agencies like Kendriya Bhandar, Mother Dairy etc.. The amount of subsidy it has received in the past five years from 2009-10 till 2013-14 are Rs 10.4 crore, 11.7 crore, 11.9 crore, 12.5 crore and 14 crore.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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