Conquest for Urban Food Canteen of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

The popular news in recent times on food security is that Food Canteens run by the State Governments of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. At present the scheme is confined to only urban area. These canteens provide “boiled food at low cost’ and is managed by Self Help Groups (SHGs) with help of Municipal Corporation. The main aim of the scheme is to ‘reduce urban hunger' and it is more useful for auto-rickshaw drivers, petty vendors, migrant labours, and other daily wage workers etc.

The idea first came from M. Bakthavatsalam, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu during 1950s. He launched the scheme in the name of ‘Annapoorna Cafeterias’ to provide food to the urban people at low price. Later it was implemented in many parts of the Chennai city by Ms.Sarojini Varadappan (Daughter of Bakthavatsalam). The Tamil Nadu Government launched the new urban canteen in the name of ‘AMMA’ (Mother) Canteen (AMMA Unavahams) on 23 rd Feb 2015. First started in Chennai city and extended to other parts of the state later. At present around 283 subsidized canteens are being operated.

Andhra Pradesh, the neighbouring state, introduced the ANNA (N T Rama Rao former Chief Minister of AP, popularly known as ‘Anna’) Canteen for the first time on the similar lines of AMMA Canteen. The scheme was in launched in four districts with 35 canteens on a pilot basis.

The main aim of the study is to examine the functioning of these canteens. The field visit has been done in two states; one is Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.

Low Price Food

The AMMA Unavagams offers food at low prices with variety of food items such as Idli, Dosa and Pongal, for morning breakfast, Sambar Rice, Tomato Rice, Lemon Rice, Curd Rice with Pickles, Vadagam for Lunch and for dinner, Chapattis with side dishes like Chutneys, Sambar, and Vegetable kurma. In Madurai and Coimbatore districts, they went one step forward to prepare ‘ayurvedic methods of food preparation’. The same strategy is adopted in Andhra Pradesh but food varieties are less with little price difference, i.e., morning only Idli with side dishes, for lunch sambar rice, and lemon rice or curd rice, and the dinner is not yet planned till now. Food prices like, one ldli for one rupee, Sambar rice and other rice is Rs.5 (weighting 300grams) curd rice is Rs.3 and Rs.3 for two Chappatis. Overall the food cost for single person per day is very low at Rs.13only.The food cost is too low when comparing to modern restaurant in same cities, for example per plate Idli (two) Rs.20 in outside hotels. So it is such an amazing scheme to reduce urban hunger and also poverty and the numbers of customers are also increasing day by day.

Customers Utilization

Based on the field data were collected from176 respondents in both regions in different areas. The respondents are happy about the Scheme regarding with different parameters.

Table 01: Utilization of AMMA and ANNA Canteens

Satisfaction	AMMA Canteen %	ANNA Canteen %
Quality	91	88.9
Quantity	89.6	82
Ayurvedic preparation	97.5	Not Started
Hygienic	98	93.5
Nutritious food	95	95
Water supply	100	85
Canteen purity	90	89

Sources: Primary data 2015.

Andhra Pradesh, in Anantapur district respondents strongly opine that “the quality is very good and taste of food is like ‘home made’. Auto drivers, vegetable sellers, migrated laborer, daily wage laborers say that ‘Low Cost Food with better nutritious’. Urban poor feel, Sambar rice and other items are at low cost, when compare to outside shop, for example single cup of tea is Rs.7. In Chennai city respondent’s particularly the daily wage labours, migrated, daily customers are said that “Rich families have five star restaurants, but AMMA Unavagams’ is five star hotels for us. This is a triangle of subsidized food through these canteens would keep in good stead to face the future.

Economic Point of View

‘Low price with better food’ provided by both governments is interesting and more satisfied by urban poor people. Government says the Scheme is managed by municipal corporations on the policy of no-profit no-loss. To put in economic point of view it is the burden on the government, for example, preparation of an Idli, cost of Rice 30 paise, Urad Dal 20 paise, manpower 22paise, tools 36 paise, fuel and electricity 24 paise, masala, water 24 paise, vegetable, oil other items 26 paise, so total cost per Idli is coming around Rs.1.82 paise, but the canteen provide One Idli for Rs.1. Hence there is a subsidy of 82 paise. Power crisis is a main problem; food prices (etc.) are increasing daily due to various reasons in both states. It is on one hand loss for both governments in economic terms but on the other hand gain in social terms. Beneficiaries were more satisfied with regarding this urban food canteen scheme.

The food canteen scheme is good but it should be limited to places where the people utilize more like near Bus Stand, Railway Station, Public Hospitals, and other public places. In Tamil Nadu, other districts like in Theni, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram and outer place of Chennai city the AMMA canteen was not functioning, but the building is new and its cost is about Rs. 20 lakhs which is un-utilized. The reasons are due to ‘financial drawbacks’ and improper administrative management. The urban canteens are boon to the poor but there is a vast scope for improving their functioning.

By A Mahendran and Prof S Indrakant

A Mahendran is a researh scholar while Prof Indrakant is RBI Chair professor