Riding high on the success of Rs 5 a meal scheme, the Mayor plans

The Rs 5 meal scheme by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been a huge hit in the city. Long queues at Nampally Sarai, where the scheme was first introduced, is a testimony to its success. This has prompted Mayor Majid Hussain to introduce ‘Breakfast at Re 1’ scheme.

The GHMC officials have started preparing a detailed project report for the pilot project for the scheme. They started chalking out plans on the lines of the Rs 5 a meal scheme. The menu will include Idly-sambar or Upma /Dosa /Poori. Initial estimates put the cost of breakfast at Rs 5 and the civic body is touted to provide a subsidy of Rs 4 for the caterer. Sources say that Hare Krishna Society’s Akshaya Patra Foundation, which has successfully been providing for Rs 5 a meal scheme, will associate with this project, too. For the meal scheme, each meal costs Rs 20, of which Rs 15 is borne by the GHMC.

Breakfast will be provided at all the eight venues where the meal scheme is currently being operated. It is estimated that the scheme will incur a cost of Rs 2.7 crore to the corporation.

“I have directed the officials to pre pare the blueprint and project report on the lines of the meal scheme. We have earmarked Rs 11 crore for these schemes in the 2014-15 budget. The aim is provide hygienic breakfast to the poor and labourers,” said Majid Hussain. He reportedly directed the officials to come up with a unique identity for the venues so that they stand out.

There are also plans to increase the number of centres from 8 to 50. With hardly six months for the elections, the Mayor and the officials are keen on implementing the project as soon as possible.