Amma Unavagam
Amma Unavagam (Tamil: அம்மா உணவகம்) - literal translation: "Mom's Restaurant" - is a food subsidization program, enacted by the Tamil Nadu state government, in India. Under this scheme, the state's municipal corporations run canteens serving food, mainly Idlis, Sambar Rice and Curd rice at low prices.[1]
The plan
Under the scheme, the corporations, with the help of self-help groups, establish canteens at various places in a city and sell food at very low prices, as low as Re.1 for an Idli, and Rs. 3 per plate of Sambar Rice or Curd Rice. The menu is also expanded to include Pongal, Tamarind rice, or curry leaf rice and Chapathi.[2] The canteens are also planned to be solar-powered.[3] Amma unavagam was opened in all the 200 wards of Chennai Corporation and the first 15 tiffin centres were inaugurated by the Chief Minister on February 19. As part of the first phase of operations, these centres covered all the 15 zones of the civic body.
Controversies
Offering food at subsidized rated under the scheme will incur the Corporations loss (for example, it was reported that in Coimbatore, the loss would be Rs. 2.64 for an idli , Rs. 9.73 for a unit of sambar rice and Rs. 4.44 for a unit of curd rice, incurring a total of Rs. 2.70 crore a year on the Corporation [4] ) and the release of funds to this scheme was opposed in Tirunelveli.[5] Also, concerns were raised on the effect these corporation canteens will have on pushcart eateries, who cannot compete with the prices offered by the canteens.[6]
References
- ^ New budget restaurants to be renamed Amma Unavagam. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ^ Affordable food coming your way. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ^ Solar power for Amma Unavagams. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ^ Amma Unavagam to open by end of May in city. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ^ Release of funds to ‘Amma Unavagam’ opposed. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ^ Corporation canteens worry pushcart eateries. Retrieved 2013-06-03.