FOOD FOR ALL
hen the Amma Canteen scheme was launched in February 2013 by the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalitha, many believed it was yet another voter-appeasement stunt that would fizzle away over time. The idea was simple: provide affordable meals to the people through a network of canteens, owned by the state government but run by women self-help groups. In 2021, when the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a rival party, was voted to power, the new government announced the setting up of another 200 canteens in semi-urban areas over time.
Today, about 407 canteens are functioning in the state. The popularity of the scheme can be assessed by the fact that these canteens daily prepare about 4.5 million idlis and 1.2 million plates of pongal for breakfast, and 2.5 million plates of sambar rice and 1.1 million plates of curd rice for lunch.
It has attracted the attention of other states as well. In Rajasthan it is the Annapurna Rasoi Yojana, where breakfast is served for `5 and lunch for `8. In Madhya Pradesh, it is called the Deendayal Canteen; in Andhra Pradesh, the NTR Anna Canteens and in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi canteens. The Amma Canteen scheme directly attacked urban hunger and malnutrition, as food is served at a highly subsidised price. Further, food is prepared and served in a hygienic environment.
One of the major reasons behind the scheme’s success is the decision to employ women self-help groups. The Amma Canteen follows an inclusive approach to employment, prioritising widows, poor and vulnerable women for recruitment. With over 4,500 women currently employed across the state, the scheme has emerged as a vital source of livelihood for marginalised communities. Moreover, its focus on self-help groups ensures that women from disadvantaged backgrounds are given the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. Each canteen employs 12-16 women, each of whom gets a monthly salary of `7,500. The payment is made through cheques to the self-help groups that distribute the same to their members.
“When my husband died in 2012, he left nothing for us. We were living handto-mouth untill 2013, when I got a job at an Amma Canteen. Today, my daughter has finished college and will start working soon, and my son has just started college. There are many women like me who are leading a dignified life because of the scheme,” says Vijayalakshmi, who earns `9,000 a month.
As the scheme continues to serve millions of people across Tamil Nadu, its legacy as a symbol of inclusivity endures. For the women employed in the canteens, it represents not only a source of sustenance but also a ray of hope for a brighter tomorrow.
W