Important decision taken by GCC now regarding Amma Unavagams!!
In the future, don`t get surprised if you come across refurbished Amma Cantees or Amma Unavagams in Chennai!!
The news is that GCC or Greater Chennai Corporation would be refurbishing the Amma Unavagams across the city by upgrading utensils, furniture and infrastructure etc
The public health dept of GCC has sent a circular and according to that all zones have been instructed to prepare estimates for repairing tables, lights and procuring new utensils etc.
The damage estimates for repairs would be sent by all 15 zones in GCC. This was as per Chennai Mayor Priya. She spoke about how some councillors have raised concerns at the meeting regarding poor patronage at the Amma Unavagams due to poor up keeping. As a part of the maintenance work, refurbishing the damaged ones would be carried out.
She concluded that the menu would have improvements based on the localised needs in some canteens. Overall menu would not be changed.
History about Amma Unavagams:
It must be noted that the Amma Unavagams were started by former CM of TN puratchi thalaivi J. Jayalalitha about a decade back. In these unavagams, items like idly, chapati, pongal, and variety rice are available at less than Rs 5. Since 2016, the sales in the Amma Unavagams have been coming down. From 6000 to 7000 per day for a unavagam, sales have dropped to 800 per day now. Initially, there were 407 Amma Unavagams in total but GCC has shut down as many as 16 Amma Unavagams. Now, there are 391 Amma unavagams only in Chennai.
As per Mr. J. Radhakrishnan, GCC Commissioner, the maintenance of these Amma unavagams would be carried out periodically. There would be painting works in most buildings.
