The Hindu                23.05.2013

Chapathi machines in Amma canteens soon

Equipment likely to be commissioned in 3 months, can make 3,000 pieces an hour.

The much-anticipated move to supply chapathis in the 200
Amma canteens in the city got a boost with the Chennai Corporation
Council approving a plan to mechanise the process. The commissioning of
equipment worth Rs. 4 crore will enable a supply of 4 lakh chapathis a
day. The equipment is likely to be commissioned in three months, in time
for September, when at least 2,000 chapathis and dal or kurma will be
supplied from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in each of the canteens. A plate of two
chapathis will cost Rs. 3

The civic body also decided
to create a separate department for managing Amma canteens. Officials
of the Corporation’s revenue and health department have been shouldering
the responsibility of running the canteens.

The
decision to mechanise Amma canteens has been taken as the six women at
work in each canteen will not be upto the task of carrying out the work
manually. While they will be able to make only 50 chapathis per hour,
the machines will have the capacity to manufacture nearly 3,000.

Chief
Minister Jayalalithaa had recently announced the expansion of the menu
in the canteens with pongal, rice preparations and chapathi being added
to the list of items served. Currently, idli is sold for one rupee,
sambar rice for Rs. 5 and curd rice for Rs 3. Breakfast is supplied from
7 a.m. to noon. Lunch is served till 3 p.m.

The canteens will soon start serving pongal for breakfast and tamarind rice or curry leaf rice during lunch for Rs 5.

Mayor
Saidai Duraisamy asked officials to commission chapathi-making machines
within the shortest possible time. The Corporation’s ambitious project
aims at providing healthy food at reasonable prices to residents living
in slums, daily labourers, drivers, load-men and migrant workers. A
number of councillors requested the Mayor to include pickle with curd
rice at the council meeting on Wednesday. The Mayor rejected the request
citing health concerns.

Many councillors noted the
rise in popularity of Amma Canteens over the past few months. The
canteens were inaugurated by the Chief Minister in February. Over 2,400
women belonging to self-help groups in the city have been cooking,
serving and managing the 200 canteens in the city. The women have been
selected through the Corporation for Development of Women.