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.
