The Hindu 21.11.2013
Largest Amma canteen opened
The State’s largest Amma canteen has come up on the premises of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (GH). This is also the first canteen to come up at a government hospital.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday launched the operations of the canteen at the hospital via video conference.
With this facility, visitors to the hospital will no longer need to walk across to areas in and around Central Railway Station for roadside eateries.
Over 300 people will be able to dine at the canteen at any point of time. The canteen will serve idlis and pongal in the morning between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Visitors will get sambar rice, curry leaf rice, curd rice and lime rice in the afternoon till 3 p.m.
Hospital authorities said that 960 idlis could be prepared in seven minutes. A reverse osmosis plant and two water purifiers have been installed for supplying water for cooking and drinking. A dishwasher, which can wash 200 plates at a time, has also been put to use.
GH receives about 12,000 out patients a day and 3,000 in patients. Patients from across the State are referred to the hospital. The number of attendants and visitors constitute a significant population at the hospital, according to doctors.
“Apart from patients and their visitors, there are nearly 800 doctors, 900 nurses, 1,200 workers and 5,000 students at the hospital. The canteen will definitely benefit all of them and there was good demand on the first day. Food provided is economical and hygienically prepared,” GH Dean V. Kanagasabai said. Currently, the hospital has a canteen.
Hospital authorities feel that the Amma canteen will cut down the practice of people consuming food inside the hospital wards. “People buy food from outside or the hospital canteen and tend to consume it near the wards. The Amma canteen does not have parcel service and so, food waste strewn inside the wards will be prevented. We could get rid of rat and stray dogs menace,” he added.
Dr. Kanagasabai, who is also the director of medical education, said steps are being taken to start a canteen for the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Institute of Child Health, Egmore and canteens at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Royapettah Hospital, Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children, Triplicane and Raja Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar Lying-in Hospital, Royapuram and medical college hospitals at other districts.
The Chief Minister also launched a number of welfare, environmental and civic projects of the Chennai Corporation, including free competitive exam coaching centre, distribution of nochi, papaya saplings and mosquito nets free of cost.
As many as 710 poor graduates will receive free coaching to appear for competitive examinations of various government posts. The classes for civil services exam and other competitive exams will be held at Chennai Schools in Saidapet and Perambur.
The scheme to distribute mosquito nets to 78,184 persons living below the poverty line in the first phase was also launched on Wednesday. Over 5.5 lakh nochi saplings and 6.5 lakh papaya saplings will also be distributed to residents.
