Patrons eat affordable meals at an Indira Canteen
Kalaburagi : Contractors running more than 581 Indira Canteens across Karnataka have warned municipal corporations and the state govt that soaring prices of essential commodities and delayed release of grants have made it increasingly difficult to provide quality food, raising the possibility of operators exiting the scheme. Idli rava prices increased from Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg in the last 15 days alone, while the cost of a commercial LPG cylinder rose from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,800. The price of bullet rice climbed from Rs 45 to Rs 75 per kg, cooking oil from Rs 130 to Rs 145, and groundnuts from Rs 70 to Rs 160.
Contractors said the prices of key essentials, including commercial LPG cylinders, rice, idli rava, upma rava, sugar, cooking oil, jaggery and vegetables, have risen sharply in recent months. Rates of toor dal, jaggery and vegetables have also surged.