After the formation of the Narendra Modi government, a message was very viral. It was said that the government has stopped subsidizing the food provided in the canteen of the Parliament. This subsidy was given to the taxpayers' money. In such a way, the money of tax payers will come in some work of public interest
Has the Narendra Modi government stopped subsidy for Parliament canteen?
The truth behind the back of the subsidy
Subsidy of Parliament canteen has not ended.
After the formation of the Narendra Modi government, a message was very viral. It was said that the government has stopped subsidizing the food provided in the canteen of the Parliament. This subsidy was given to the taxpayers' money. In such a way, the money of tax payers will come in some work of public interest.
This message was very viral in 2016.
In 2015, Biju Janata Dal MP Vayjayant Jay Panda had written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan demanding withdrawal of subsidy from Parliament canteen. This demand was accepted by Sumitra Mahajan and issued an order. The order issued on December 31, 2015 said that the canteen of Parliament will now run on 'No profit, no-loss' model. All food items will be sold at their production costs. This order came into effect from January 1, 2016.
After this order all the prices of food items were increased. Tea 2 has been replaced by 6 rupees. Rice was replaced by Rs 12 per plate instead of 4 rupees. Kadhi-Pookoda has been replaced by 6 to 12 rupees. The price of vegetarian plate has increased to 18 to 30 rupees. At the same time, carnivorous plate has been replaced by Rs 33 to Rs 60.
There was a lot of controversy on the occasion of the cheap cane of Parliament canteen. In such a situation, the decision to abolish government subsidy was welcomed.
But now what is the truth?
Now, in response to an RTI, it has been found that the subsidy given to the food in the canteen of Parliament is not over. Ashok Kumar Upadhyay asked in the RTI how much subsidy has been given to the canteens of Parliament in the last 5 financial years. The answer to the government is shocking.
A subsidy of Rs 12.52 crore was given to the canteen of Parliament in 2012-13. 15.05 crores in 2013-14, 15.85 crores in 2014-15 and 15.97 crores in 2015-16.
According to the order of speaker Sumitra Mahajan, this subsidy should have ended in 2016-17 but it did not happen. In the financial year 2016-17, the canteen of the Parliament was given a subsidy of 15.40 crores, while this amount should have been zero.
Two meanings of this point can be removed. First of all, the government has just announced to collect applause in public, but the canteen subsidy is not stopped. Second, the price of food was also increased. Still the subsidy was given. In this case, it could be a scam from mutual collusion.