Samosa or paneer pakoda? The big debate ahead of FIFA U-17 World Cup

What do you think should be of immediate concern for bureaucrats and officials a couple of days before a major tournament? Venue readiness? State of the field? Or maybe accreditation hassles? But if you are in India, it is an intense debate over samosa and paneer pakoda. Yes you read it right. This is the topic of discussion in the sports ministry whether or not to drop these food items from the menu for school children in order to bring down the cost of the dinner packet from a measly Rs 89 to Rs 75. The dinner menu will be served to many of the school children, numbering roughly 26,000, who have been provided with complimentary tickets to fill up the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium on October 6, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to open the Under-17 World Cup. The amount (Rs 75) has been penciled on a ministry note, a copy of which is with this correspondent, duly signed by sports secretary Injeti Srinivas, who also holds the dual charge as director general Sports Authority of India (SAI). In the note Srinivas writes: "…Rs 75 per packet should suffice. Please ascertain from fast food suppliers such as Haldiram, Bikano etc."

Under-17 players training at New Delhi ahead of the World Cup

Massive amount
To put the expenditure in context, the Government of India had put forward Rs 90 crore to refurbish its stadium for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, while the AIFF will provide another Rs 76 crore as the host body. And the sports ministry is trying to bring down the budget of dinner menu for school kids by Rs 14. After sports secretary's diktat, the officials sought the food menu from Bikanerwala and Bangla Sweets. While Bikanerwala quoted Rs 89 for the menu, Bangla sweets quoted Rs 94.

"If we omit one of the snacks either samosa or paneer pakoda then it will be within the limit prescribed by secy (SP). (if samosa is omitted then the total comes to Rs 72- in respect of Bikanervala & Rs 77 in respect of Bangla sweets). For bulk order the vendor normally reduces the rate," the note reads further.

Rs 50 food coupon too
The dinner packet was deemed necessary because the matches will end up in the night. But besides the dinner, the children will also be provided with Rs 50 food coupon to be used once inside the stadium. They are also in line to get a T-shirt for their day's work. Deputy director general of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Sandip Pradhan has been given the responsibility to see that the children get the coupons. This scramble to fill up the stadium is happening on the back of sports ministry's insistence to shift India's matches to the capital. India was scheduled to play all of their league matches in Navi Mumbai, but after some deliberation agreed for change of venues.

Delhi Govt Educational Institutions, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, unaided recognised private schools, Delhi Public School, Magic Bus India Foundation, Army Public School, NDMC, Sports Authority of India and Dyal Singh College are all in line to get complimentary tickets. In all 26,750 complimentary tickets are to be given for the inaugural day, while 22,250 tickets will be given out for the rest of the three match days.

75 Cost (in R) that the ministry is willing to pay per plate of food for kids
89 Cost (in R) the caterers are offering per plate, including both snacks