PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday informed the members of the Legislative Assembly that the State government will invite Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to operate canteens within the government owned properties, where fish curry rice and pav bhaji will be served at “minimum rates”.
“Under the ‘Mukhymantri Annapurna Yojana’ all canteens including those at bus stations and police stations will be given to SHGs to operate at an extremely low rent, and we will put a condition that they have to serve fish curry rice and pav bhaji at minimum rates,” Sawant said
“There are no takers for the majority of canteens as PWD charges rent up to Rs 20,000. We will charge Rs 1,000-Rs 2,000 as rent from SHGs. From September onwards, we will ask them to submit quotations and by October, canteens will start operating,” he added.
Sawant was replying to a private member resolution moved by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai through which Sardesai demanded government to formulate a policy to provide subsidised fish curry and rice to Goans, which is the staple diet of Goans and also demanded subsidised meal be provided through canteens which will be run by organisations such as women self-help groups, so that this programme will also provide an avenue of income for such organisations.
“The constant and substantial increase in prices of essential commodities and fish is making it extremely difficult for the common Goans to make ends meet and thus maintain a wholesome diet,” Sardesai said.
The Chief Minister claimed that poverty is not a major issue in Goa and added that the government is providing rice to people through the public distribution system including 50,000 beneficiaries who fall under below poverty line and to those registered in Anganwadi across the State.
The Chief Minister said that the government will create cold storage facilities in the State within one year in order to provide fish at subsidised rates.
