Mandya: Deputy commissioner Kumara said that the tourism department’s mobile canteen subsidy scheme aimed to promote economic self-reliance among Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities while simultaneously strengthening tourism in the district.He spoke while chairing a meeting to review the release of subsidies for the 2024–25 financial year. Under the scheme, a subsidy of Rs 5 lakh is provided to eligible SC/ST beneficiaries for the purchase of mobile canteens. Kumara said the district decided to extend support to 11 beneficiaries. Of these, six completed a one-month entrepreneurship training programme, while the remaining five are currently undergoing training in the second phase.The DC stressed that the subsidy must be used strictly for the intended entrepreneurial purpose and warned against any misuse. Based on tourism data from the past five years, he directed officials to identify suitable high-footfall locations at major tourist destinations where the trained beneficiaries can operate their mobile canteens. He advised the entrepreneurs to focus on serving clean, tasty and high-quality food, noting that hygiene and consistency are essential to build a strong and trusted brand.Kumara strictly prohibited the transfer of subsidised vehicles to others and instructed officials to assist beneficiaries in obtaining mandatory licences from the Food Safety and Standards Authority. Emphasising public health, he warned against the reuse of cooking oil, called for strict adherence to food safety norms and insisted on maintaining a professional dress code while operating the canteens.The meeting was attended by tourism department deputy director Raghavendra, district health and family welfare officer Dr K Mohan, and officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority.
