Key points:
- India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), which on November 15 will start running the Parliament canteen.
- Officials have not announced the name of the chef.
- “We’re going to launch operations with around 125 or 150 employees.”
- The company is currently looking to upgrade the cutlery and crockery and upgrade the kitchens to meet the quality of five-star hotels.
- Last week, the house ended its more than 50-year-old relationship with Northern Railways.
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), which on November 15 will start running the Parliament canteen, plans to employ a celebrity chef as it tries to boost the quality and increase the varieties of food available to MPs, officials familiar with the project said.
ITDC on Chef:
ITDC has already concentrated on a chef who has served for five years with the President of India and is globally known for managing the canteen’s culinary operations.
Officials have not revealed the name of the chef. The proposals formulated by the state-run hotel chain, including the price list, have been authorized by the Lok Sabha secretariat.
“A gradual improvement in the service will occur,” an official said on the condition of anonymity. “We’re going to launch operations with around 125 or 150 employees.”
ITDC on Snacks:
Initially, ITDC would restrict itself to serving tea, coffee, kadha (an herbal concoction), and packaged snacks such as salted savories and biscuits because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
It is possible that complete operations will only begin around the next budget session. In addition, officials said, a rise of only Rs . 5 is also anticipated in rates.
It is a big banqueting activity, “the official referred to above said.” “Sweeping changes will be made in the service of sit-down gatherings, such as the Prime Minister’s meeting with the Council of Ministers, gatherings of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, conferences, and hosting of international delegations.”
An official on Kitchen Upgrade:
The company is currently looking to upgrade the cutlery and crockery and upgrade the kitchens to meet the quality of five-star hotels, said a second official.
“There will be three main canteens, the Senate, the Annex to Senate, and the Library,” said this official.
A memorandum of understanding relating to improving food quality has already been signed by Parliament and ITDC and an agreement is expected to be concluded shortly.
The workforce is projected to be about 250-strong when full operations resume; the employees will be working over a period of time.
“It is likely the basic aspects will remain the same,” the first official said. We have to wait to see what is approved by the entire secretariat. But we want to sell them a large range of teas, coffees, cappuccinos, decaf.
50 years of relationship ended:
Last week, the house ended its more than 50-year-old relationship with Northern Railways, which has been supervising the Parliament House complex’s catering since 1968.
By November 15, the workers deployed by Northern Railways had been asked to report back to their department.
