Mysore: With the Dasara inaugural just two days away, a sumptuous breakfast was served to the caretakers of Dasara elephants and their family members this morning at the Palace premises comprising obbattu, idli-vada-sambar, dosey-palya, gulab jamun, khara pongal and fruit salad. The breakfast was hosted by the Mysore Palace Board.

District in-Charge Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad personally served the breakfast, feeding the children with obbattu and other delicacies. A variety of toys were also distributed among the children of elephant caretakers (Mahouts and Kavadis) that were eagerly grabbed by them.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister said that though the breakfast has been served to the Mahouts, Kavadis and their family members as part of the tradition, it should not stop here but continue further even after they return to their elephant camps.

“While feeding obbattu to the children, I found them malnourished which is a cause of concern. There are already several programmes to feed the school-going children. But we need to ensure that they are properly implemented,” he said.

To a query about the pothole-ridden roads in city, the Minister said that the works are on, though affected by the rains.

Minister Prasad also launched the battery-operated, geared three-wheeler scooterette service at the Palace which will be provided at Rs. Five an hour, it is learnt. Discussions are on about providing four of them at the Palace, four for the City Zoo and two for the Traffic Police.

MLA Tanveer Sait, former MUDA Chairman C. Basavegowda, MUDA Commissioner S. Palaiah, Palace Board Director Bharathi and Dy. Director T.S. Subramanya were present.