Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa commenced her fifth tenure in style on Sunday by gifting people with more than 200 Amma Canteens all over the State. Jayalalithaa, who was sworn in as the Chief Minister on Saturday, drove down to Fort Saint George (Tamil Nadu Secretariat) on Sunday afternoon. She was received by Chief Secretary Gnanadesiakan and other top bureaucrats.
In her first order, Jayalalithaa sanctioned more than 200 new Amma Canteens to be opened all over Tamil Nadu. Chennai will get 43 new Amma Canteens. In addition to this, the Chief Minister issued orders worth Rs1,900 crore relating to development of rural and municipal roads, drinking water supply project and a slew of measures related to welfare of women. Families headed by women stand to get a lot of concessions and welfare schemes from the Government, as per a new order issued by Jayalalithaa on Sunday.
The CM also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and her AP counterpart Chand-rababu Naidu for their messages congratulating her on becoming the CM for the fifth time. A senior Government official said an order opening more Amma Pharmacies, which sell medicines at subsidised rates, is on the anvil.
The Amma Canteens, launched in the aftermath of her victory in the 2011 Assembly elections, sell food at subsidised rate for the benefit of the poor and needy. While even small hotels and eateries charge Rs 10 for one idli, the same is sold at Re 1 through Amma Canteens which are subsidised by the Government.
Sambar rice and curd rice, the staple food of Tamils, are sold at Rs 5 per plate while one has to shell out Rs 60 per plate in small hotels and eateries. The Amma Canteens are managed by women self help groups. Jayalalithaa has given strict instructions to officials in-charge of the Amma Canteens that no compromise on hygiene should be allowed.
launched as an experimental project, these Government-sponsored canteens became instant hit in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, the DMK, which had belittled the Amma Canteens when they were launched, celebrated party president Karunanidhi’s 93rd birthday last June by feeding the people of Vellore district with idlis purchased in bulk from Amma Canteens.
The mission got national and international recognition with officials from other States making a beeline to Tamil Nadu to study about these eateries. Representatives from Egypt, led by Mohammed Rezek, director, Ministry of Trade and Industry, had visited the Amma Canteens last June and announced that such canteens would be launched in that country too.
“This is better than the food coupons issued by some developed countries. We are launching such canteens in our country also,” he had told reporters.