The Hindu 03.06.2013
10 budget canteens opened in city
“I am making my daily living by selling flowers and my
husband works in a tea stall. For people like us, the budget canteen is a
godsend” — this is what flower vendor Pandiammal told Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa through video conferencing at the opening of budget canteen
near Periyar Bus Stand on Sunday evening.
The
much-awaited ‘AMMA canteens’ came up at 10 places in the city after the
Madurai Corporation took steps in the last one month to create
infrastructure.
From the secretariat in Chennai,
Ms.Jayalalithaa inaugurated canteens in Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin
and Coimbatore. Immediately after the formal inauguration, the canteen
was open to public and hundreds of people thronged the counters to buy
tokens.
The public response was good because the
price is subsidised. While a single idli costs one rupee, sambar rice is
sold at Rs.5 and curd rice at Rs.3.
Budget canteens
announced by the State government for the Madurai Corporation have come
up at Melavasal (Periyar Bus Stand), K. Pudur, Palanganatham,
Arapalayam, Anaiyur, Gandhipuram, Ramavarma Nagar, Tirupparankundram,
New Ramnad Road, Ramarayar Mandapam and CMR Road.
The
canteens will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 12 noon to 3 p.m. on
all days. Members of women self-help groups have been roped in by the
Madurai Corporation.
Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa,
Corporation Commissioner R. Nanthagopal and City Health Officer
V.Yasodha Mani were among those present. Later, talking to reporters,
City Engineer in-charge A. Mathuram said that the guidelines issued by
the Municipal Administration Department were followed while setting up
of the canteens. “Each canteen can handle a capacity crowd of 300 to 500
persons a day in the morning and afternoon. About 5,000 idlis will be
prepared every day. All steps have been taken to ensure hygiene and
sanitation,” he said. Take away (parcel) is not allowed in budget
canteens.
Also, reverse osmosis plants hadvebeen
provided to supply safe drinking water. Cash counter, food supply area,
tables, dish wash and hand wash have been provided. Mr.Mathuram said
that it was not clear on who would bear the expenditure for running the
budget canteens — the Municipal Corporation or State government.
