The Hindu 31.05.2013
Corporation seeks G.O. for running Amma Canteens
P.V.V. Murthi
The Vellore Corporation Council has passed a resolution at its
ordinary meeting here on Thursday, seeking a government order by the
Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply for meeting the
expenses in connection with the running of the proposed Amma Canteens in
10 places in its limits for supply of subsidised food under the
Annalakshmi Scheme of the Tamil Nadu Government.
The Amma Canteens
are to be set up in Gandhinagar, Bharathi Nagar (both in zone-1), Beedi
Workers’ Quarters and Corporation Commercial Complex in Sathuvachari,
Venkatapuram Road in Alamelu Mangapuram (zone-2), near the Corporation
shops in Arni Road in Viruppakshipuram, Corporation School premises in
Bagayam and Market High School in Kosapet (zone-3), and Neduntheru in
Kaspa and near MLA’s Office in Anna Salai (zone-4).
It has been
estimated that while the production of food in the 10 canteens would
cost nearly Rs. 2.8 crore per year, the Corporation would be able to
realise an income of only Rs. 1.3 crore from the sale of food in view of
the subsidised price. It sought administrative sanction from the
government for spending the remaining amount from the general funds of
the Corporation.
The resolution sought a G.O. to enable the local
body to purchase the rice required for the scheme from the Tamil Nadu
Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) at a subsidised price of Rs. 1 per
kg, and for getting other groceries from the TNCSC at the price at which
they were sold under the public distribution system. It sought orders
for purchase of vegetables from the open market at the prevailing daily
prices, and to obtain the milk and curd from Aavin. The resolution
sought orders for obtaining the liquefied petroleum gas cylinders from
the agencies directly at the subsidised price for cooking food in the
canteens.
The council approved the expenditure incurred under the scheme.
At
the urgent meeting held later, the council decided to spend money from
the general funds for the purchase of cooking vessels for the 10 Amma
Canteens at a cost of Rs. 3.60 lakh each, for which the contract has
been awarded to an industry in Kalavai. It also decided to purchase
equipments such as SS tank, HDPE water tank, one HP electric motor, hot
& cool water dispenser, solar power pack, and solar water heater in
all the canteens at a total cost of Rs. 73.30 lakh.
Water treatment machines
The
Corporation decided to spend Rs. 15 lakh on setting up water treatment
machines at the main office and the four zonal offices, and Rs. 7.50
lakh for the purchase of SS tank, HDPE water tank, one HP electric
motor, hot & cool water dispenser, solar power pack and solar water
heater in the main office and the four zonal offices during 2013-14.
P.
Karthiyayini, Mayor of Vellore who presided over the meeting said that
the canteens would function in the multipurpose community centres and
other buildings wherever they were available, while in other areas, they
would function in new buildings which are under construction.
The
Mayor visited the Amma Canteens coming up in Kaspa and Gandhinagar on
Thursday and oversaw the trial cooking of food on the instructions of
the Commissioner of Municipal Administration.
She told
The Hindu
that a woman’s self-help group comprising 12 experienced cooks would be
in charge of the cooking in each of the 10 canteens. The cooks underwent
one-day training under a master chef in Vellore recently. They were
also taken to Chennai to see the cooking of food and functioning of the
Amma Canteens started there, especially aspects such as courteous
treatment of customers. They underwent a health check up here on
Wednesday.
