Indira
Canteen is a food subsidy programme sponsored by the Karnataka government.
These are inspired from Tamilnadu’s Amma Unavagam which is also a food subsidisation
programme.  

The Canteens
offer meals in Karnataka’s civic wards, districts, and talukas. Breakfast,
lunch, and supper are all available at the canteen.

Indira
Canteen aims at providing low-cost assistance to economically disadvantaged
people. The breakfast will consist of idlis and coconut chutney, along with
variety of rice for the day. Lunch and supper will consist of rice, sambar,
curd rice, tomato bath, and a few other dishes.

CT Ravi
wants the Indira Canteens to be renamed Annapoorneshwari Canteens by the
government.

Also Read| What is the controversy around Karnataka’s Indira Canteens?

In a tweet
on Saturday, the Chikkamagaluru MLA said, “Request CM Sri @BSBommai to rename
Indira Canteens across Karnataka as Annapoorneshwari Canteen at the earliest.
Don’t see any reason why Kannadigas should be reminded of the dark days of
Emergency while they are having food.”

Also Read|West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee dances at World Tribal Day event. Watch

Ravi’s
demand was criticised by KPCC president DK Shivakumar, who said that previous
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was the driving force behind the Green Revolution,
which prioritised food security to end the colonial legacy of famines. Mrs
Gandhi and Karnataka enjoyed a particular relationship, as anyone in
Chikkamagaluru will tell you, he added.

Indira
Canteens in Karnataka, according to Shivakumar, carried on Indira Gandhi’s
pro-poor tradition.

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah also termed the demand as ‘vengeance’ politics.  

“Demanding a change in the name of Indira Canteen is nothing but vengeance politics. There are so many programmes (named) after the leadership of BJP. Did we demand to change those names?” Siddaramaiah said, news agency ANI quoted.