Image courtesy: belfercenter
Recently, an RTI response revealed that the canteens have run a subsidy of a shocking Rs.14 crore in just a year between 2013 and 2014. Certain foods were sold at the price of only 1/10th the price of the raw materials.
Subsidies are for the poorest of the poor and when privilege gets the subsidy which should have been given to the poor, it is like taking food from their mouth. In a nation that has 33% of the world’s poor population, subsidies to the privileges show the apathy of our system towards the poor.
In an appreciative move, Odisha MP and BJD leader Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda wrote to the speaker of the Lok Sabha demanding the removal of parliament canteen food subsidy to raise public trust and confidence in lawmakers.
“I am confident that many MPs will support this initiative. I plan to write to all my colleagues in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha soon. For many years, I have taken a public stand against our pervasive “vvip culture,” which I believe is ripe for change. Of course, there’s a long way to go and it won’t all change at once, but gradually, brick by brick,” he said in his status on Facebook
This is the letter addressed to the speaker of the Lok Sabha
