METRO
A new project is to be launched on Monday to provide affordable meals for people on low incomes, and while most applaud the idea, not everyone thinks it will work, writes Supoj Wancharoen
City people take a look at what is on offer at a mobile food stall. |
Curry and rice for only 15 baht? That's the price of a meal in a new food project to be launched on Monday by Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin in a bid to ease the economic hardships of city dwellers.
Mr Apirak has instructed each district office to encourage food vendors in their jurisdictions to take part in the City Kaogaeng project. Kaogaeng is local fast food with rice and a topping on it.
Vendors who agree to take part will receive a tent, a table and chairs, city certification stickers and an apron and cap - all free from City Hall.
In the initial stages, each district is to have at least one such stall or shop whose owner will sign a contract with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the governor said. This will be a three-month pilot project and if the response is positive, City Hall will renew the contracts for another three months.
"Any vendor can take part in the project as long as they fix their prices at 15 baht for one topping and 20 baht for two toppings," he said.
The BMA has worked out five possible menus - most are popular choices and made of not too expensive ingredients.
Each participating stall or shop is to have at least five kinds of food on its menu.
One suggested menu, for instance, is chicken in green curry, stir-fried mixed vegetables, a boiled egg in Chinese herbal soup, stir-fried chicken with holy basil and a fried or boiled egg.
Local fast food Kaogaeng, sold in a market popular for its cheap food. |
Another suggested menu is chicken in panaeng curry, hot, stir-fried fish balls, stir-fried mixed vegetables, fried fish and a fried or boiled egg.
Mr Apirak said all the vendors taking part must accept conditions which include the food being clean, apart from being cheap. And it has to be served with free drinking water.
City officials will check to make sure clients get a reasonable portion of food, said Mr Apirak, who is also deputy leader of the Democrat party.
"The cheap prices must not mean a small portion of food with only one piece of pork or chicken. The vendors will enjoy lower production costs, so the prices of 15-20 baht are acceptable," he said, adding that the average kaogaeng price is now 25 baht per plate.
Even though the timing seems right for the project as food prices, in particular rice and pork, are rapidly climbing, some vendors doubt it can last. Some are even hesitant to be part of it.
Jae Wa, a food vendor in the Ratchadamnoen area, said she would rather not join the project. She said she did not think the project will attract many since the subsidy goes on the wrong items.
"To keep food prices low at 15-20 baht as required by the BMA, we need the subsidy for raw materials, not chairs or tables," said the 50-year-old.
"Today we try to keep the old prices to help our clients. We just give a little less but maintain the good quality. Our clients are understanding. But 15-20 baht is not possible," she said.
Jae Pook, a food shop owner in the Sao Chingcha area, said she did not think vendors joining the project will stick with it.
"To start with, the raw materials are so expensive," she said.
More importantly, it depends very much on an economy of scale, she said.
"A shop can sell at such a low price only if it has a big group of customers. It has to have wider food choices to attract people," she added.
Jae Pook said she will not regard people involved in the project as her rivals.
"Our food is more expensive, but we have more on the menu. Our food is not so plain since we don't have the pressure [to keep the price low]. Besides, other food shops selling similar items are more expensive."
However, one customer welcomed Mr Apirak's project.
Winyo Pongkasemwiwat said he would give it a try when the project is launched. "I will see if it's really good - clean and tasty. A lower price is not enough," he said, adding that the project, if successful, should help those with low incomes.
He said kaogaeng is the right choice amid times of economic hardship.
"It's much cheaper to have kaogaeng. The taste suits us and it makes our stomach full longer," he said.
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