Durgapur Maa Canteens Shut Down Over Pending Government Funds

The Maa Canteen, which provides meals to poor people for just ₹5, has been shut down at two locations in Durgapur. The canteens at Viringi More and Durgapur Bus Stand were closed from Wednesday, leaving many daily workers and low-income people without affordable food.

No Funds for Four Months
According to the canteen operators, no government funds have been received from May to August. Due to the pending payments, grocery and vegetable sellers have stopped giving supplies on credit. There is also a shortage of cooking gas and firewood.

Running one canteen costs around ₹4,500 every day. Mitali Badyakar, who runs the Viringi Maa Canteen, said that no money has been received since April. She said the civic body was informed about the problem, but no solution was provided. Officials reportedly said that the money may arrive by September 10. However, if rice is not supplied, the canteen may have to remain completely closed after September 12.

The closure has affected many people who depend on the canteens for cheap meals, including sanitation workers, van drivers and other daily workers. One customer, Janardan Mondal, said that even the promised ₹5 fish-and-rice meal is no longer available, and now people cannot even get plain rice.

The Congress and CPI(M) have criticised the government over the issue. Congress leader Debesh Chakraborty and CPI(M) leader Siddhartha Basu questioned why food for poor people had been stopped. There are also allegations that the women from self-help groups working at the canteens have not received their salaries.

Meanwhile, Durgapur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Abul Kalam Azad Islam said that an allotment of 36 quintals of rice and ₹2.49 lakh has already been sent. He said the date when the money will reach the account depends on the bank.
BJP district spokesperson Sumanta Mondal also claimed that the pending money should have already been credited to the account.