Techno Park canteens raided.  TCS resists inspection.
By John Abraham

Noodles and worms tossed with last week's vegetables, rubber bands in tomato sauce, cockroach shallow fry. Does the menu sound tempting? That isn't all; glass grains mixed with chicken fried rice, human hair omelets. Ask the techies at the Bhavani complex at Techno Park Trivandrum and they will wax eloquent about the variety of stomach-churning food they feed on at exorbitant prices in a restaurant in the building.
 
A techie, on conditions of anonymity, told Techgoss that it is not just the quality of food but the quality of service too leaves the techies gasping. Many of them have made complaints to the authorities but no serious action has been taken against any catering team by officials from the Techno Park. Sources which wanted to remain anonymous hinted that things may change as a rumor is doing the rounds that the food contracts may not be renewed.
 
The techie blogs on the web are in gastronomical revolt. One blog reports how 3 unwashed, unclean prawns with half removed shells and sand were served with a pile of onions on it. The techie in question told Techgoss that he developed high fever and a severely constricted throat and subsequently had to be hospitalized for a couple of days. This was in April 2008. Techgoss asked the techies why they didn't change their eateries if they weren't satisfied with the food; 'time management and convenience' were the reasons they were forced to eat in their complex, say the folk. The distance factor forces them eat whatever is served, and whatever price they are charged.
 
On June 5th the local newspapers in Trivandrum reported wide spread confiscation of stale and unhealthy food from several canteens and eateries on the campus. The techie blogs have also reported this with glee. It seems that the special Inspection squad on the job from the Trivandrum city corporation was initially denied access to the TCS canteens and had to seek police help although they were in uniform.

The report in the Hindu newspaper records the details on the names of the eateries that are found faulty so it looks like the Bhavani techies are not the only people who suffer. One of the canteens did not even have a license. The eateries have all been issued notices now and this will be followed by legal action says the report.  According to the Hindu report:  "The squad issued notice to the Café Mojo located in the Gayatri building on the Techno park campus, Amrita Restaurant and Rangoli restaurant on the Nila complex and a canteen in the Tata Consultancy Services building".
 
Some of you may remember the Techgoss snippet we published on the yummy food served on the Techno Park campus by the Kudumbashree group of women entrepreneurs at an absurdly low rate. They used to serve fish curry meals for just Rs.17 a packet at the pantry of the company on order. The food quantity was delicious and the quantity enough and plenty for two people, so there were several techies buying one lunch and sharing it. Techgoss enquired what had happened to that practice.
 
We have been told by the techies that the women volunteers of Kudumbashree have been denied entry to some areas of Bhavani. On enquiry, the Kudumbashree sources say that they still supply to some floors in Bhavani but in others there is a resistance to their presence from someone quoting "quality" of food. The techies swear by the quality and price of food served by Kudumbashree. The price of a packet of fish curry meals is now Rs.20, while the restaurants charge Rs.80 for a vegetarian meal which consists of a small bowl of rice, two roties, a small bowl of dal and some potato stew.

Perhaps opening an outlet of Kudumbashree or similar organizations at the Techno Park Campus and allowing door delivery of food at all areas will serve a dual purpose of clearing the food-woes of the techies as well as contribute towards the social responsibility factor of the Techno Park in making a marginalized group earn an honest living. Both Techno Park and Kudumbashree are State government endeavors and so there is no reason why a practical solution is not worked out.
 
 
(Techgoss ran the following story in October, 2007 detailing the low priced, healthy, tasty food served by the Self Help Group Kudumbashree)
 
Kerala Tech: Yummy food delivered
By ITBangbug
 
Hot steaming red rice with fish curry and fish fry, that's sure to tickle the taste buds of a Malayalee. Imagine getting that for your lunch, delivered to you in your software company. No, I am not talking of dabbas or tiffins but of delicious homemade food, nicely packed in plantain leaves, just like they do at home. Any Mallu would freak out on this!
 
Well, some techies working in the Technopark at Trivandrum do so, as they get their lunch from Kudumbashree, a woman's Self Help Group (SHG). For many who are staying in hostels or rented accommodation, this is a blessing. "I have the Kudumbashree meals most days and it reminds me of food back home, infact they give so much that two of us can share a packet", comments Jayshree, an engineer.
 
Starting with just 5 lunch packets some time back, this group is now supplying about 60 meals every day to employees of various software companies in Technopark. "We need a minimum of 100 meals to break even", says Seena from Kudumbashree who is also the contact person for the techies. This SHG had taken a loan of Rs.2.5 lakhs to fund this venture and after Government subsidy, they still have a balance of Rs.1.25 lakhs to pay up. Ten BPL families are dependent on this venture for their livelihood.
 
This is a project under the aegis of Kudumbashree, a poverty alleviation initiative of the Kerala Government. Unemployed women from very low income families form a SHG and start small projects to make themselves financially independent and to support their families.
 
The lunch packets are priced very reasonably. Vegetarians can have a sumptuous meal of rice, sambar or daal, some vegetable dishes and a pickle for just Rs.17 while those who love fish have a treat including some Kappa (tapioca) for only Rs.25. There are other specials too. The only catch is that orders have to placed before 10.30 am by calling up 99463 06410. The ladies from Kudumbashree will be waiting at your company's pantry during lunch time.
 
These women are looking for a helping hand. With over fifteen thousand professionals employed in Technopark, this should not be a difficult task. They hope many more people in Technopark will place lunch orders in the coming days and support their venture.