The Hindu 07.05.2013
Amma Unavagam: ‘Serving the downtrodden is priority’
Welfare of the people comes first than tackling the loss
arising from the noble cause. Though the Salem City Municipal
Corporation would bear the loss of Rs. 2.54 crore arising out of
operating the proposed 15 Amma Unavagams, providing food at reasonable
price to the downtrodden and serving the society stands tall.
Officials
said that the projected revenue from sale of idli, sambar rice and curd
rice would be around Rs. 197.09 lakh, while the production cost would
be around Rs. 451.85 lakh, thus resulting in a loss of Rs. 254.76 lakh.
They added that the projected requirements for a year for preparing
three items in 15 canteens would be, tice – 492.75 tonnes, dal items –
150 tonnes, vegetables – 317 tonnes, cooking oil – 31,207 kg, cooking
gas – 2,700 cylinders, curd – 82,125 kg and other ingredients. Apart
from these, vessels and kitchen items, including grinder, mixi and
refrigerator had to be purchased and labour cost borne.
Rice
would be purchased at a cost of Rs. 1 per kg from the Tamil Nadu Civil
Supplies Corporation apart from buying provisions and cooking oil from
the same organisation. Vegetables would be brought from local market at
the day’s prevailing rate and the curd would be brought from Aavin.
Also, cooking gas would be brought directly from the companies.
Initially, the civic body has planned to open four canteens, while the
rest would be opened in a phased manner, the official said.
Corporation Commissioner M. Ashokan told
The Hindu
that they were yet to receive orders regarding the loss factor. “Serving
the downtrodden is priority as we would request the government for
grants for functioning of these canteens,” added the Commissioner.
