New milieu at canteen a mixed dish for lawmakers
LUCKNOW: It was a sweet and sour experience for the lawmakers at the Vidhan Bhawan canteen on Wednesday. Some cheered the changes in service and the environment while others found the new reality hard to digest.
When the lawmakers walked into the canteen for lunch or snacks, well-dressed smart waiters welcomed them with the menu card. Before the legislators could settle on the table, the waiters were ready to note their orders.
“I was comfortable with the traditional waiters deployed by the Karmachari Kalyan Nigam,” said an elderly MLA.
“I have been visiting the canteen for the last 20 years and a majority of the old waiters knew my choices. They served me food without taking the order,” he added.
Another MLA objected to the price of food. “Earlier we got good food at a cheaper rate. Now, the quality has deteriorated and we are forced to pay more,” he said.
A Samajwadi Party MLA said, “The rate and quality of food that is served in Parliament canteen should be implemented in UP Vidhan Bhawan canteen as well.”
Suddenly, some of the MLAs protested against delay in service. The contractor pacified them, saying that waiters were yet to adapt to the new environment.
“Earlier, they served food to common people in the downtown Banarasiya restaurant, well known for east UP food. Now, they are attending on VIPs. Some of them are nervous and the delay is obvious. The staff will settle down in the coming days,” he said.
The SP MLA said, “We have demanded non-vegetarian food but the new contractor has no non-veg items on the menu.
“The BJP MLAs had objected to non- vegetarian food,” said another MLA from the ruling party.
The MLAs appreciated the cleanliness in the canteen but demanded an improvement in the quality of food. Principal secretary (Vidhan Sabha) Pradeep Dubey said: “The decision to hire new contractor to run the Vidhan Bhawan canteen was taken at an all-party meeting. The leaders of the legislature parties have given approval to the food rate list as well. The price of the food is less than the market.” There were several complaints against the old canteen run by the Karamchari Kalyan Nigam. The quality of the food had deteriorated.
The price of majority of the food items has been doubled. Earlier vegetarian thaali was served at `40 now we are being charged `80. Rate of vegetrian pakoda was `20 and it has been hiked to `40. Even the price of tea, coffee and kheer had been increased RAJBALI JAISAL, BSP MLA