You may laugh if someone asks you where you would get a delicious Chicken Biryani for Rs 65, and you may even doubt that the person asking such a question must be crazy, as even a chicken piece is not available at that price. But… chicken biryani used to be available at that rate till yesterday. Yes! We are speaking about the rates of food items served in Parliament Canteen, Delhi.
The Modi government has finally applied a full stop to this. The government decided to lift the entire subsidy provided on food items in the Parliament canteen. The decision would be implemented from the next session of the Parliament. The government took a decision based on the suggestion of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This may appear as a small decision, but when the subsidy on the food for a year in Parliament costs Rs 17 Crore, this is a big decision.
Now the chicken biryani used to be available for Rs 65 and chicken curry for Rs 50. But these prices were less prior to 2015. The then BJP MP Baijayant Panda had criticised the subsidised prices. The prices were increased by 50 to 70 percent resulting in chicken biryani price going to Rs 65. You can understand what the price was earlier.
Everyone may not get a chance to eat in Parliament because only those with passes can come into Parliament. The staff of MPs, journalists, and visitors generally eat there and while in session there used to be 4,500 consuming food in the canteen.
Want to know the prices earlier?
Bread Butter Rs 6
Tea Rs 5
Coffee Rs 5
Dosa Rs 12
Bonda Rs 7
Dal Rs 5
Poha, Upma Rs 18
Veg Curry Rs 7
Kesari Bhat Rs 24
Chicken curry Rs 50
Chicken Biryani Rs 65
Mutton curry Rs 40
Veg Thali Rs 35
Soup Rs 14
Chapati Rs 2
Kheer Rs 18
Salad Rs 9
There are criticisms over the huge salaries, subsidies taken by the public representatives. Earlier once Chandrababu Naidu proposed hike in salaries of the MLAs. Along with Jagan, all had supported it. The then YSRCP MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy opposed this. He said that there were no MLAs in the Assembly who depend on salaries but the bill was passed.
It has to be seen whether the subsidy from the canteen in the Assembly would be removed or continued. Though it is a small decision, the government gave signals that there is no need to give subsidies to public representatives.