Bengaluru: While Iskcon happens to be among the contenders in the race for supplying food to the proposed ‘Indira canteens’, the state government it is learnt is also in talks with other hoteliers’ associations given Isckon’s inability to use onion and garlic in their food preparation.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U?T?Khader informed that the government is going through the available options and Isckon, with its reputation of providing high quality food was still being considered for the supply of food to the canteens.

As per sources the government is in talks with other associations since Iskcon had expressed its inability to add onion and garlic in its preparations. Asked to comment, Khader only said the canteens are for poor, labourers, rural students, who like onion and garlic in their food.

Khader said the government has told the hoteliers’ associations and non-governmental organisations to indicate the quantity and ingredients that will be going into the food preparations.

The Indira canteens based on the model of Tamil Nadu’s Amma canteens will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at an affordable price in each of the 198 wards of the BBMP and are expected to be opened in a span of two months.

Khader said that the government is looking at possibility of food being prepared in a centralised place in every Assembly constituency and later supply to the canteens in the wards coming under its jurisdiction adding that the quality of food in these canteens will be better than that served in Amma canteens.

Initially, the food supply will be limited. Food will be served for the first 200 to 250 people (each for breakfast, lunch and dinner) who order at the canteens. The canteens will open early in the day to cater to students, labourers and office goers.