Samridhi, Indira canteen row refuses to die down

Samridhi@Kochi, a five-year-old budget eatery opened during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) regime, and the proposed Indira Canteen, a similar initiative announced by the newly elected United Democratic Front (UDF) governing committee as part of its 50-day action plan, were at the centre of a heated debate between ruling and Opposition councillors at the Kochi Corporation council meeting on Tuesday.

While the LDF accused the UDF of attempting to sabotage Samridhi by opening the proposed canteen on the Samridhi premises, the UDF insisted that this was not the case, and that their rival’s objection was merely to naming the project after the late Congress leader.

Later, replying to the debate, Mayor V.K. Minimol clarified that the canteen project was separate from Samridhi and that the proposal would be submitted before the council ahead of its likely inauguration next month.

“Nowhere have I said that Indira Canteen will be opened within the Samridhi premises. Samridhi is a good initiative but requires transparency to ensure accountability. The new project will have more outlets beyond the one proposed on Paramara Road, where Samridhi is currently functioning,” she said.

Earlier, LDF parliamentary party leader V.A. Sreejith sought clarification on whether the proposed Indira Canteen would operate out of the Samridhi@Kochi hall, since the mayor had mentioned Paramara Road as its location. He said that while the LDF supported the initiative to provide breakfast and dinner for ₹10, any move to change the name from Samridhi to Indira Canteen would be strongly opposed.

UDF councillor P.V. Chandran urged the LDF not to create unnecessary controversy around a humanitarian initiative merely over its name. “What is wrong in naming a project after Indira Gandhi? After all, it was the LDF that renamed Ernakulam Town Hall after their leader EMS Namboodiripad,” he said.

Henry Austin, another UDF councillor, called for an audit of Samridhi@Kochi to ensure transparency in its funding, questioning whether it is supported through CSR contributions and, if so, how much funding has been received.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor Priya Prashanth asked whether the UDF intended to run Indira Canteen through Samridhi, which they accused of lacking transparency. “We will fully support the project if it is a separate initiative,” she said.

UDF councillor Deepthy Mary Varghese demanded a detailed report on the functioning of Samridhi at the next council meeting to assess whether it is merely a business venture or a service-oriented initiative. Since Corporation funds are involved, she said, any losses must be disclosed to the council and it should be clarified who will bear them.