New Delhi: An online petition urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end the parliament canteen subsidy has garnered over 1.61 lakh supporters on Change.org.
The petition, which was started around two months ago by a Delhi based man, asks PM “If we (the public) can give up our LPG subsidy why can't the MP's who earn over1.4 lakhs per month with perks pay for their food?”
The petition also cites an RTI reply in which it was revealed that the parliament canteen received Rs 60.7 crore in subsidies for the last five years.
Citing the fact that 16th Lok Sabha has 442 crorepatis, the petition questions the logic behind the subsidy.
Here is the complete petition submitted to to PM Modi and Chairman of Parliament Food Management Committee A.P. Jitendra Reddy:
This petition is to tell the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, that there are more poor people in our country than the MP's who need subsidy on food. Please stop this subsidy to Parliament canteen and utilize this money to feed the poor of this country who cannot afford 2 meals a day.
Parliament canteens serving MPs got a total subsidy of Rs 60.7 crore during last five years with items like puri sabji being sold at 88 per cent subsidized rates, an RTI reply shows. Journalists also enjoy this subsidized food in the canteen may be thats is the reason no one had bought this up ever strongly and asked questions to the lawmakers.
If we can give up our LPG subsidy why can't the MP's who earn over1.4 lakhs per month with perks pay for their food ? We pay taxes for their salary, perks, travel, stay everything. Should we pay for their food also ? Cant they afford their own food ? Why can't this amount be utilized to feed the unprivileged instead of feeding the MP's.
With 442 crorepatis in the 16th Lok Sabha, do they need subsidy for food? Parliamentarians, earning over Rs 1.4 lakh with perks, are relishing items like fish fried with chips at Rs 25, mutton cutlet at Rs 18, boiled vegetables at Rs 5, mutton curry with bone at Rs 20 and masala dosa at Rs 6 with rates subsidized by 63 per cent, 65 per cent, 83 per cent, 67 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively. The cost for procuring raw items of dish like stew vegetables comes to about Rs 41.25 while the MPs are getting it for Rs 4, which is a subsidy of about 90 per cent. For the non-vegetarian meal raw items are procured at Rs 99.05 while the prepared dish is served at Rs 33 to MPs with 66 per cent subsidy.
The reply provided to RTI shows that the present rates of dishes have not been revised from December 20, 2010. Is food cost for common man or fuel cost the same rate as Dec 20, 2010? Is inflation applicable for common man only?
The reply shows that canteens received a subsidy of Rs 10.4 crore, 11.7 crore, 11.9 crore, 12.5 crore and 14 crore during the years 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2013-14 respectively, which totals to around Rs 60.7 crore. Papad costs Rs 1.98 but sold at Rs 1 in these canteens with a whopping subsidy of 98 per cent. The only item, which is sold for a marginal profit is 'roti' for which raw items cost 77 paisa while sold at Rs one, it said while ‘khomani ka meetha' being served at market price of Rs 15 for piece of three.
So on behalf of every common man I request you to stop this subsidy and let the MP's pay for what they eat.
