Bengaluru CAR Police Seek Departmental Meals Over Health Issues From Roadside Food
A group of Bengaluru City Armed Reserve (CAR) personnel has approached the Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority (KSPCA) to demand hygienic food facilities and a departmental meal system. The personnel, who are frequently deployed at high-security locations like the Vidhana Soudha, sports stadiums, and protest sites across Bengaluru, cited significant financial strain and health issues caused by eating roadside food while on duty.
According to the representation, CAR personnel deployed on day-long bandobast duties routinely work 12 to 14-hour shifts. Because of their strict operational commitments, they are often unable to leave their posts for lunch.
To cope, these personnel spend between ₹80 and ₹120 daily on meals, frequently relying on roadside food. The representation highlighted that eating roadside food in a hurry has led to gastric and other health-related problems, alongside the added financial burden.
In response, KSPCA member Mohan Kumar Danappa sent a letter to the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) on July 3, urging the police headquarters to examine the feasibility of introducing a food facility for CAR personnel.
Danappa noted that there is currently a disparity in welfare measures. While Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) personnel are provided food through a centralized kitchen system, CAR personnel lack access to departmental meals. Danappa stated that setting up a canteen on the lines of the KSRP is feasible and would address several issues relating to the health and well-being of the personnel.
As interim measures, Danappa suggested providing a daily food allowance of ₹100, supplying meals from nearby KSRP battalions, or procuring packed meals through local self-help groups or the Akshaya Patra Foundation. For a long-term solution, he proposed establishing a centralized kitchen at the CAR headquarters on Mysuru Road to supply meals to deployed personnel across Bengaluru.
However, a senior police officer explained that the two forces operate under different deployment models. The officer stated that KSRP has a much larger deployment, while CAR's arrangements in Bengaluru are decentralized, with jurisdictional DCPs making arrangements based on local convenience. The officer added that cooking and serving meals on time for relatively small contingents deployed across different parts of the city is operationally difficult.
