India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
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Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#2> Economists say the canteens are a burden on the exchequer but they are a hit with politicians in a country where hundreds of millions of people live on less than a dollar a day
The difference between these projects and soup kitchens is these are chiefly political projects. The state borrows to pay for patronage and largesse. No doubt, the vendors were not selected through an open auction.
Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#3I believe these are subsidized (the article does mention economists complaining that these are a drain on the exchequer).
A more subtle point is that these subsidized "canteens" are in urban India, which is already much better off than rural India, where people even now regularly die of hunger[1]. I'm not saying urban poverty isn't a real issue, but the scale of poverty in rural India is much greater.
It's worth noting that you can get free food in many places in India (and in some cities in Europe and the US), via the Sikh langar[2] which is funded by charity and volunteers.
[1] for instance: http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/oct/22/man-starv... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langar_(Sikhism)
Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#4Similar to the (sadly, fading) Bar Mleczny in Poland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_mleczny
Simple food (Polish food obviously, not Indian), government-subsidized, targeted at students, the elderly, the poor, but not means-tested or anything so technically anyone can get a plate, including foreigners, for very cheap. Typically very good food, but horrible customer service (old women yelling at you to make up your mind while you order, etc).
Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#5Annapurna Bhojanalya - UP |
Aam Admi Canteen - Delhi |
Amma Canteen - Tamilnadu |
Annapurna Canteen - Andhra Pradesh |
Annapurna Rasoi - Rajasthan |
These are scraps to hide the big loot at the top.
Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#6I believe these are subsidized (the article does mention economists complaining that these are a drain on the exchequer). A more subtle point is that these subsidized "canteens" are in urban India, which is already much better off than rural India, where people even now regularly die of hunger[1]. I'm not saying urban poverty isn't a real issue, but the scale of poverty in rural India is much greater. It's worth noti…
There are not that many Sikhs around. 22 million in a country of 1.2 billion. Most live in the north. You can't easily go get food from Sikhs.
Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#7> Economists say the canteens are a burden on the exchequer but they are a hit with politicians in a country where hundreds of millions of people live on less than a dollar a day The difference between these projects and soup kitchens is these are chiefly political projects. The state borrows to pay for patronage and largesse. No doubt, the vendors were not selected through an open auction.
Not to mention these are also used to enshrine a particular political figure, specially in India. As mentioned the idea seems to be from Amma Kitchen run by Jayalalitha, who passed away earlier this year.
This again is named after an Indian Prime Minister whose name is synonymous with a particular party in India.
Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#8I believe these are subsidized (the article does mention economists complaining that these are a drain on the exchequer). A more subtle point is that these subsidized "canteens" are in urban India, which is already much better off than rural India, where people even now regularly die of hunger[1]. I'm not saying urban poverty isn't a real issue, but the scale of poverty in rural India is much greater. It's worth noti…
I feel this might be one of those cases where people would prefer to pay some feel -no matter how small- than bear the burden of the social and emotional cost of asking for a handout.
Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#9I believe these are subsidized (the article does mention economists complaining that these are a drain on the exchequer). A more subtle point is that these subsidized "canteens" are in urban India, which is already much better off than rural India, where people even now regularly die of hunger[1]. I'm not saying urban poverty isn't a real issue, but the scale of poverty in rural India is much greater. It's worth noti…
Given the fact that Indian state already run a lot food programs and passed the National Food Security Act in 2003 [1], this just adding burden to the existing system. And on that end economists are right in complaining because this is nothing but redundancy built to ensure incumbents win the next election. Once elected they might ask for central package or special status for the state.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Food_Security_Act,_20...
Re: India's Indira canteen: The best meal you can buy for 13 cents
#10It says, "Each dish costs a mere five rupees, or about 13 cents". Except that, at present, 1 USD = ~65 INR, so more like 8 cents.