Deccan Chronicle 03.06.2013
More Amma canteens open
Chennai: Encouraged by the response evoked among Chennaiites, the state government on Sunday extended the low-budget eateries, Amma canteens, to other corporations in the state.
Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, as announced in the Assembly a few weeks ago, launched 90 new canteens in nine corporations, 10 each, from the secretariat through video-conferencing. Besides, she also introduced the much-awaited breakfast menu inclusion of pongal-sambar, and curry leaves rice and lemon rice for lunch at Chennai’s 200 canteens.
The Amma canteens, aimed at providing healthy food at affordable price, are bound to cheer hundreds of workers, poor and middle-income groups belonging to the nine corporations - Madurai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Salem, Tirupur, Thoothukudi, Vellore and Erode – who would get to taste the south Indian fare of idli–sambar in the mornings, while sambar rice and curd rice would form the lunch menu.
This launch follows the announcement made by Jayalalithaa in the Assembly on May 16 that the ‘instant hit’ Amma canteens would be extended to nine other corporations. At present, each city would get 10 eateries, in all 90 canteens, which would be extended to other parts of these corporations, based on the response from the public.
The budget canteens launched in Chennai February this year became a smash hit among labourers, migrant workers and other sections of society as idlis sold for Rs1 a piece, curd rice for Rs 3 and sambar rice for Rs 5.
This apart, the CM also kept her word by extending the menu by introducing pongal-sambar, healthy curry leaves rice and sumptuous lemon rice dishes, all priced at Rs 5 a plate. Chennai budget eateries would soon include chappathi (rotis) and dhal in their menu.
Chief secretary Sheela Balakrishnan and Maws secretary Phanindra Reddy were present at the function.
