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.