The Times of India               12.06.2013

Now, a bar code embedded token to buy food at Amma canteens

COIMBATORE: Soon customers at the Amma budget canteens will be handed bar code embedded tokens for each serving of idli, sambhar rice and curd rice. The civic body has decided to introduce computerised billing with token system on a pilot basis at the low budget canteen in Flower Market on a trial basis. Initially, there was a suggestion to use Radio Frequency Indentification (RFID) method but it was dropped. "The token system will be introduced by next week," said S Sivarasu, deputy commissioner, Coimbatore municipal corporation.

Each card will have a code signifiying location, centre name and name of the item ordered. Two computers and two bar code scanners will also be allotted to the canteen. One at the cash counter while the remaining two will be at the delivery counter. The canteens are meant to serve 1200 idlis, 300 servings of sambhar rice and curd rice.

"There will be separate tokens for each items and technically we require 900 tokens as each idli plate will have four idlis. About 100 additional cards will also be kept," Sivarasu added.

The computerised billing system will enable the corporation to keep a close tab on the functioning of the canteens. Technical support for the program is being provided through National Informatics Centre (NIC) and will be introduced in the remaining nine Amma Unaivagams in the coming months. "When compared to the RFID method, bar code-enabled reading system is more economical and user-friendlyto maintain the record of the transactions in this system," said K Venkatesh, additional district information officer, NIC, Coimbatore.

An estimate of Rs70,000 to Rs80,000 has been prepared for the project which will also enable corporation to maintain transparency in monitoring the day to day activities at the centre. A final log of daily transactions will be automatically sent to the corporation's server for assessment. The canteens are being operated by various women self-help group and there is a huge demand for their low priced food items.

The Hindu           10.06.2013

Water scarcity hits annual rites at Amma Mandapam

only source:Water flowing in a trickle from a handpump at Amma Mandapam bathing ghat in Tiruchi. —Photo: M. Moorthy

With the Cauvery river remaining bone dry for nearly six months now, the water table across the city has fallen sharply.

The gravity of the situation is brought out nowhere better than at Amma Mandapam bathing ghat, right on the river bank, where a borewell is rapidly failing.

The borewell fitted with a hand pump is the only potable water source in the bathing ghat, which is thronged by scores of people every day to perform rituals in memory of their ancestors. Purohits, who conduct the rituals, complain that they are facing a scarcity of water.

The corporation has provided the necessary infrastructure at the bathing ghat including sheds for people and their purohits to perform the annual rites on the death anniversaries of their ancestors. But inadequate drinking water supply is proving to be major problem, complain purohits. Water is also supplied through a water tank on the premises, but the purohits say that the tank is open and hence the water unsafe for consumption.

Over the past 10 to 15 days, the water flows in a trickle from the hand pump that too after repeated pumping for a few minutes.

“On most days the flow dries as the water level goes down. Water could be pumped only for a couple of hours in the morning when the borewell got some water overnight,” says A.S.Thiruvenkatachari, president, Tiruchi Mandala Purohits Association, Srirangam branch. “This is a place visited by scores of people every day for performing rites. Water is essential for them and us. People are now forced to buy drinking water in bottles even to perform the rites,” says V.Jayaraman, a purohit.

Some of the purohits allege that a damaged pipe of the borewell that runs into the ground has been removed by civic officials but not replaced so far. A few others also charged that the water tanks meant for bathing are not being filled up regularly and adequately by the contractor, and often people face problems in getting water for bathing too. “Water is pumped into the tanks only for about a couple of hours and this is not adequate,” another purohit said.

Mr. Thiruvenkatachari, who has represented the matter to the authorities, says that the corporation is earning substantial revenue through the auction of the tonsuring centre and has to provide the necessary amenities required for the people.

Corporation officials point out that a temporary plastic tank has been placed on the road near the bathing ghat and filled with water every day, but the purohits maintain that it is quite far away and suggest that the tank be placed inside the bathing ghat.

Water tanks meant for bathing are not being filled up regularly, adequately by the contractor’

A temporary plastic tank placed on the road near ghat is filled with water every day: corporation