No More Subsidized Rates in Parliament Canteen From Jan 1

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that the Parliament canteen will work on ‘no-profit, no-loss’ basis from January 1.

Food items in Parliament canteen will no longer be subsidised.

A statement from Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday said Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has decided that the canteen in Parliament will work on ‘no-profit, no-loss’ basis from January 1, Times of India.

The rates are hiked as subsidised food served in Parliament was often criticised due to inflation in the market. An RTI query revealed that Parliament canteen facility got a total subsidy of Rs 60.7 crore during the last five years.

Lok Sabha member Baijayant Jay Panda had initially suggested the move in a letter to the Speaker in July 2015 calling for an end to the subsidy scheme. Panda said in light of the government urging voluntary surrender of LPG subsidies by those who could afford it, MPs giving up the privilege was “a right step in effecting greater public trust” in lawmakers.

@PandaJay letter,demanding removal of subsidy from Parliament canteen.He was abused by Cong&Left MP's fr this letter pic.twitter.com/PTyQjRpfbi

— Vignesh.V.Shanbhag (@vigneshshanbhag) December 31, 2015

Responding to the news, Panda called it a “great end to 2015”.

Thanks. Grt end to 2015! & perfct new yr's gift to nation wd be for both houses of Parlmt to function, end deadlock☺ https://t.co/3yJ6s2b1q9

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) December 31, 2015