Ten budget canteens were inaugurated by the Vellore Corporation on
Sunday evening.  Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa inaugurated the canteens
through video conferencing.

Hundreds of party cadre and public
gathered on the occassion. The canteens were opened at Gandhi Nagar in
Katpadi, in Anna Salai, Arni Road in Virupatchipuram, Neduntheru in
Kasba, Beedi Workers Quarters and near Vellore Collector’s Office in
Sathuvachari, Bharathi Nagar in Tharapadavedu, Venkatapuram Road in
Alamelumangapuram, near Corporation Schools in Bagayam and Kosapet.

Some
centres were constructed exclusively for the canteen, while a few were
opened in the existing buildings of  the Corporation. “The halls  were
designed according to the layout specifications sent by the Department
of Municipal Administration and Water Supply,” said Mayor P
Karthiyayini.

As many as 120 women of ten self-help groups were
employed at these canteens. Each centre would prepare 1,200 idlis,
sambar rice and curd rice for 300 persons on a daily basis. Idlis would
be available between 7 am and 10 am and will cost `1 per idli. Sambar
rice and curd rice will be available between noon and 3 pm and wil cost
`5 and `3, respectively.

Minister for Backward Classes and
Minorities Welfare, A Mohammedjan, Vellore MLA Dr V S Vijay and
Collector P Sankar were present at the inauguration.