Amma Unavagam

Amma Unavagam
Company typeGovernment-owned- Restaurant
IndustryRestaurant services
GenreSouth Indian Vegetarian Cuisine
FoundedFebruary 19, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-02-19)
FounderJ. Jayalalithaa
Headquarters
Chennai
,
India
Number of locations
407[1]
Area served
Tamil Nadu
ProductsFood
ServicesSubsidised low cost food
RevenueNon-profit organisation
OwnerMinistry of Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Tamil Nadu
Number of employees
4,500[2]
An Amma Unavagam outlet in Adyar, Chennai

Amma Unavagam (Tamil: அம்மா உணவகம்) is a food subsidisation programme run by the Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Tamil Nadu in India.[3]

Under the scheme, municipal corporations of the state-run canteens serving subsidised food at low prices.[4] The genesis of the scheme could be traced to the concept of rural restaurants promoted by Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute.[5]

About the name

The literal meaning of the name of the scheme Amma Unavagam is Mother's canteen. Amma translates to mother in Tamil, but is also a reference to the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa, who introduced this restaurant chain as part of government schemes aimed at aiding economically disadvantaged sections of society.[6]

About the scheme

Menu displayed in front of a canteen in Adyar, Chennai

The scheme requires municipal corporations in the state to establish canteens at multiple places in cities and sell subsidised food at very low prices.[7] 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.[8]

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, ₹5 for a plate of "Karuvapellai Satham" (Curry leaves rice) and ₹3 for a plate of curd rice.[9][10]

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$320,000) a year.[11] There was opposition in Tirunelveli to the appropriation of governments funds to this scheme.[12] 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.[13]

List of Amma Unavagams

  • In Chennai
  • Kanchipuram District /
  • [14] Thiruvallur District / Gummidipoondi

See also

References

  1. ^ "PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AMMA UNAVAGAM LIST" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Chennai: Amma canteens set for revamp with new menu". The Times of India. 10 December 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Jayalalithaa : A political career with sharp rises and steep falls". The Hindu. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  4. ^ "New budget restaurants to be renamed Amma Unavagam". The Hindu. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  5. ^ Rural Restaurants for food security and jobs too; Two circles net; May 16, 2012
  6. ^ "Mother of welfare schemes". The Hindu. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Affordable food coming your way". The Hindu. 19 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Solar power for Amma Unavagams". The Hindu. 2 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  9. ^ Pandey, Geeta (4 July 2016). "Amma canteen: Where an Indian meal costs only seven cents". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  10. ^ Rajagopalan, Ashwin (2 May 2016). "Inside Jayalalithaa's Amma Canteen: Sambhar Rice for Rs5, Idlis for Re1 each". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Amma Unavagam to open by end of May in city". The Hindu. 27 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Release of funds to 'Amma Unavagam' opposed". The Hindu. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Corporation canteens worry pushcart eateries". The Hindu. 14 April 2013.
  14. ^ "Amma Unavagam - Finder". Gethu Games. 5 April 2020. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2020.