Amma Unavagam
 | |
| Restaurant chain | |
| Industry | Restaurant services |
| Genre | South Indian Vegetarian Cuisine |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai Corporation |
| Headquarters | Chennai, India |
Area served | Tamil Nadu |
| Products | Food |
| Services | Subsidised low cost food |
| Revenue | Non-profit organisation |
| Owner | Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu |
| Website | Official Website |
Amma Unavagam (Mother Canteen) is a food subsidisation programme run by the Government of Tamil Nadu in India. Amma translates to mother in the Tamil but also is a reference to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who introduced this restaurant chain as part of government schemes aimed at aiding economically disadvantaged sections of society.
Under the scheme, municipal corporations of the state run canteens serving subsidised food at low prices.[1]
About the scheme
The scheme requires municipal corporations in the state to establish canteens at multiple places in cities and sell subsidised food at very low prices.[2] The first canteens were opened in several localities of Chennai, and later in other corporations of the state. Three of the ten canteens in Coimbatore are partially solar-powered.[3]
Menu and prices
The food chains primarily serve South Indian food including idli, saambar rice, curd rice, pongal, lemon rice, curry leaf rice and also chappathi. The dishes are offered at low prices: ₹1 for an idli, ₹5 for a plate of sambar rice and ₹3 for a plate of curd rice.[4]
Controversies
It has been reported that massive losses are incurred by corporations by offering food at very low rates. As an example, the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation reported a loss of approximately ₹2.64 for an idli, ₹9.73 for a unit of sambar rice and ₹4.44 for a unit of curd rice, incurring a total loss of about ₹2.70 crore (US$400,000) a year.[5] There was opposition in Tirunelveli to the appropriation of governments funds to this scheme.[6] Concerns were also raised about the effects subsidised canteens can have on pushcart eateries, importantly that small business ventures may not be able to withstand competition from government subsidised low cost canteens on a long-term basis.[7]
See also
- Amma Kudineer
- Ahar Yojana, a similar scheme in Odisha
References
- ↑ "New budget restaurants to be renamed Amma Unavagam". The Hindu. 24 February 2013.
- ↑ "Affordable food coming your way". The Hindu. 19 May 2013.
- ↑ "Solar power for Amma Unavagams". The Hindu. 2 June 2013.
- ↑ Pandey, Geeta (4 July 2016). "Amma canteen: Where an Indian meal costs only seven cents". BBC News. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
- ↑ "Amma Unavagam to open by end of May in city". The Hindu. 27 May 2013.
- ↑ "Release of funds to 'Amma Unavagam' opposed". The Hindu. 31 May 2013.
- ↑ "Corporation canteens worry pushcart eateries". The Hindu. 14 April 2013.