Speaker to consult parliament canteen committee on subsidy

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday said she will consult canteen committee on the issue of subsidy being given to canteens in parliament.

Interacting with reporters after a luncheon meeting with leaders of parties in the Lok Sabha, Mahajan said the canteens are used not only by MPs but also by the entire staff of parliament, security personnel and media persons.

She said guests who come to parliament also use canteen facility.

"How should we improve? Whether we should leave subsidy and or not and if it is to be given, how it should be done? We will talk to canteen committee. The objective is that there should be improvement," Mahajan said.

A reply to a Right to Information query has revealed that the central government faced a loss of around Rs.14 crore (over $2 million) in 2013-14 on account of subsidy given to over half a dozen canteens in the parliament complex.

Most food items served in the parliament canteens are priced very low compared to the rates they are sold at in the market.