New uniforms for Indira Rasoi staff

Why in news:

• The Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB) has recently approved a proposal to have uniforms for employees of the Indira Rasoi across the state.
• Both men and women will get a red t-shirt with blue jeans, cap, apron and a jersey for winters.
• The women employees will also have another uniform option of red saree with blue blouse.

Key Points:

• There are more than 2,000 employees working at the Indira rasoi in more than 350 outlets across Rajasthan who will be provided with two pairs of winter and two pairs of summer uniform every year.
• According to the Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB) the department has decided to give a dress code to Indira rasoi workers for a good impact.
• Every year the department will bear a cost of Rs 1.5 crore to provide uniforms to employees working in 358 Indira Rasoi of the state. The state government has approved the proposal and very soon it will be implemented.
• Earlier, the Annapurna rasoi was run by a single contractor, but to break the monopoly, multiple contractors were pitched in. Currently, around 300 contractors run the Indira rasoi in Rajasthan.
• State Nodal officer of Indira rasoi said that the public response for Indira Rasoi has been encouraging.
• This is a good initiative that is helping the needy to get food at cheap rates.
• Details of people dining at Indira rasoi are taken and later a link to provide feedback for the rasoi is also provided to them.
• The uniform will give a unique identity to the employees who will work with more pride and respect.
• Recently, over 50 lakh people have benefited from Indira Rasoi Yojana (a kitchen scheme), in Rajasthan.

Indira Rasoi Yojana

• The scheme was launched in August 2020.
• The aim of the scheme is to provide nutritious food to the poor and needy twice a day at concessional rates.
• Under the scheme, each plate serves 100 grams of pulses and vegetables each, 250 grams of chapati and pickles.
• It aligns with the World Food Day’s 2020 theme to grow, nourish and sustain together.
• For the purpose of implementation, local voluntary organisations have been roped in for establishing the centres near the places such as bus stands, railway stations and hospitals and for successful implementation of the scheme.
• The Rajasthan government scrapped the previous Annapurna Rasoi Yojana which was offering breakfast and lunch on the lines of Tamil Nadu’s Amma Unavagam (mother’s canteen).
• For the purpose of monitoring, committee headed by the District Collector will be formed to track the implementation of the scheme. A special app has also been created for monitoring the food quality.
• As far as targets are concerned, the scheme targets to serve 1.34 lakh people per day in the state. Till now the scheme has benefitted 50.30 lakh persons across the State.