Mangaluru, (The Hindu): There will be no change in rates of breakfast, lunch and dinner at the proposed Indira Canteens despite the Goods and Services Tax (GST). While the breakfast will be charged ? 5, the lunch and dinner will be provided at ? 10, respectively, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U.T. Khader said here on Sunday.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Khader said that the State government will bear the GST and will not burden people, who will get quality food at Indira Canteens. Work of setting up the canteens has been fast tracked and all the units will start functioning on August 15, said Mr. Khader, who is a member of the five-member committee looking into setting up of canteens.

Mr. Khader said that one centralised kitchen will be established in each one of the 28 Assembly constituencies in the BBMP area. Each one of centralised kitchens will cater to about eight canteens. These canteens will provide food to nearly 1.8 lakh people every day, he said.

‘Political gimmick’

Terming as political gimmick the Saturday midnight function in the Central Hall of Parliament for launch of Goods and Services Tax, Mr. Khader said that there was no need for such an event for the implementation of legislation in indirect taxation.

“Yes, it is a progressive legislation. But, it certainly does not necessitate holding a function in Parliament,” he said. People have been provided with uniform taxation. “This is not one nation one tax. Still a lot of work needs to be done,” Mr. Khader said.