Reportedly at 1 pm on a hot thursday afternoon, Amma Unavagams, also known as Amma Canteens, across chennai began serving food free of cost. This, after the Greater chennai Corporation (GCC) announced on thursday that it would provide food free of cost at all Amma Unavagams till the end of the lockdown period (May 3) with the help of donations. Launched in 2013 by then tamilnadu chief minister J jayalalithaa, the flagship scheme has seen reduced patronage recently and was even running at a loss prior to the lockdown. Thursday’s announcement, however, has seen many patrons return to the subsidised eateries.
More people started to visit the Amma Unavagam from Thursday. As soon as the Corporation announced free food, people rushed to the canteen. But we are well-prepared to handle the crowd,” said an Amma Unavagam worker in West Cooum River Road. The canteens, which were producing 150 idlis until wednesday as against their regular total of 200 idlis, started making 200 or more idlis. Anticipating crowds, one worker said, “We are also making additional quantities of food for lunch.”
Most of the employees working across the 407 Amma Unavagams in tamil Nadu are women from self-help groups (SHGs). The women begin work day at 5 am with their responsibilities including cooking and cleaning. They finish these tasks by 6.30 am and open the counters at 7 am to serve piping hot food which is mostly idli and pongal. They also make lunch which includes sambar rice, curd rice and lemon rice. For dinner, the canteens serve chapati or pongal. The announcement from the Corporation has come as a relief for many people, including migrant workers and daily wage labourers, who have lost their jobs during this lockdown.
