>BrownHairedGirl at 02:13, 10 March 2021

2021-03-10T02:13:35Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Amma Unavagam
|logo = [[File:Amma Unavagam.jpg|350px|Amma Unavagam]]
|type = Restaurant chain
|founder = [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
|area_served = [[Tamil Nadu]]
|industry = Restaurant services
|genre = South Indian Vegetarian Cuisine
|products = Food
|services = Subsidised low cost food
|revenue = Non-profit organisation
|operating_income =
|net_income =
|owner = [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
|num_employees =
|parent =
|subsid =
|slogan =
|footnotes =
|foundation = 19 February 2013
|location_city = [[Chennai]]
|location_country = [[India]]
|location =
|dissolved =
|rating =
|website =
}}

[[File:Amma unavagam in Adyar, Chennai.jpg|thumb|350px|An Amma Unavagam outlet in [[Adyar, Chennai]]]]

'''Amma Unavagam''' ''([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: அம்மா உணவகம்)'' is a food [[subsidy|subsidisation programme]] run by the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] in [[India]].It is a first of the kind scheme run by any government in India. It has been an inspiration for many states like Odisha, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh which later proposed similar schemes seeing its success.<ref name="sharprises">{{cite news|title=Jayalalithaa : A political career with sharp rises and steep falls|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Jayalalithaa-a-political-career-with-sharp-rises-and-steep-falls/article16760118.ece|accessdate=6 December 2016|publisher=The Hindu|date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

Under the scheme, [[Municipal Corporations in India|municipal corporations]] of the state-run canteens serving subsidised food at low prices.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/new-budget-restaurants-to-be-renamed-amma-unavagam/article4448654.ece |title=New budget restaurants to be renamed Amma Unavagam |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=24 February 2013}}</ref> The genesis of the scheme could be traced to the concept of rural restaurants promoted by [[Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute]].<ref>[http://www.theweekendleader.com/Causes/1135/thought-for-food.html/ Public donations can be channeled for setting up rural restaurants]</ref>

==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 Chief Minister [[Jayalalithaa|J Jayalalithaa]], who introduced this restaurant chain as part of government schemes aimed at aiding economically disadvantaged sections of society.<ref name="mother">{{cite news|title=Mother of welfare schemes|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Mother-of-welfare-schemes/article16761095.ece1|accessdate=6 December 2016|publisher=The Hindu|date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

==About the scheme==
[[File:Price list, Amma unavagam.jpg|thumb|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/affordable-food-coming-your-way/article4729502.ece |title=Affordable food coming your way |work=The Hindu |date=19 May 2013 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/solar-power-for-amma-unavagams/article4774920.ece |title=Solar power for Amma Unavagams |work=The Hindu |date=2 June 2013}}</ref>

==Menu and prices==
The food chains primarily serve [[South Indian cuisine|South Indian food]] including ''[[idli]]'', [[Sambar (dish)|''saambar'' rice]], [[curd rice]], [[Pongal (dish)|''pongal'']], [[Lemon Rice|lemon rice]], [[Curry leaves|curry leaf rice]] and also [[chappathi]]. The dishes are offered at low prices: {{INR}}1 for an ''idli'', {{INR}}5 for a plate of ''sambar'' rice, {{INR}}5 for a plate of "Karuvapellai Satham" (Curry leaves rice) and {{INR}}3 for a plate of curd rice.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pandey|first1=Geeta|title=Amma canteen: Where an Indian meal costs only seven cents|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36659670|accessdate=4 July 2016|work=BBC News|date=4 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="IE">{{cite news|last1=Rajagopalan|first1=Ashwin|title=Inside Jayalalithaa’s Amma Canteen: Sambhar Rice for Rs5, Idlis for Re1 each|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/jayalalithaa-amma-canteen-chennai-food-politics-2780749/|accessdate=6 December 2016|publisher=The Indian Express|date=2 May 2016}}</ref>

==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 {{INR}}2.64 for an idli, {{INR}}9.73 for a unit of ''sambar'' rice and {{INR}}4.44 for a unit of curd rice, incurring a total loss of about {{INR Convert|2.70|c}} a year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/amma-unavagam-to-open-by-end-of-may-in-city/article4754834.ece|work=The Hindu|title=Amma Unavagam to open by end of May in city|date=27 May 2013}}</ref> There was opposition in [[Tirunelveli]] to the appropriation of governments funds to this scheme.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/release-of-funds-to-amma-unavagam-opposed/article4768013.ece |title=Release of funds to ‘Amma Unavagam’ opposed |work=The Hindu |date=31 May 2013}}</ref> Concerns were also raised about the effects subsidised canteens can have on [[Food cart|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-downtown/corporation-canteens-worry-pushcart-eateries/article4615710.ece|work=The Hindu|title=Corporation canteens worry pushcart eateries|date=14 April 2013}}</ref>

==List of Amma Unavagams==
* In Chennai<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ammaunavagam.in/|work=Gethu Games|title=Amma Unavagam - Finder|date=5 April 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Amma Kudineer]]
* [[Ahar Yojana]], a similar scheme in [[Odisha]]
* [[Indira Canteens]], a similar scheme in [[Bengaluru]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:Government welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Restaurants in India]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]

Amma Unavagam - Revision history

>BrownHairedGirl at 02:13, 10 March 2021