The Times of India                  07.06.2013

Amma canteen to open at GH, may improve hygiene

CHENNAI: In two weeks, visitors to the Government General Hospital would be able to sample piping hot idlis, pongal and other Amma canteen dishes which are now a hit across the city for their low price. The hospital authorities, meanwhile, have another reason to feel happy about the canteen, as they think it would discourage patients' bystanders from bringing food to the wards and corridors and dirtying the places.

The construction work for the 5,000sqft building began on Wednesday and the canteen is expected to be thrown open for public in a fortnight. It would comprise a kitchen and two dining halls that can seat more than 300 people. Mayor SaidaiDuraisamy said more government hospitals would soon get such canteens.

"Most of the visitors bring food from home or restaurants and eat in the hospital corridors. They litter the hospital, raising infection risk. The budget canteen would reduce this problem to a large extent," said hospital dean Dr V Kanagasabai.

"I work at a construction site in Mogappair and my wages hardly help me make ends meet. If the budget canteen comes up at GH, it would be useful as people like me can have decent meals more often," said 22-year-old Dibyaraj, a migrant labourer who had come to visit his wife at the hospital.