Amma Unavagam

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 the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa, who introduced this restaurant chain as part of government schemes aimed at aiding economically disadvantaged sections of society.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

The food chains primarily serve South Indian food including idli, saambar rice, curd rice, pongal, lemon rice, curry leaf rice and also chappathi. The dishes are offered at low prices: ₹1 for an idli, ₹5 for a plate of sambar rice, ₹5 for a plate of "Karuvapellai Satham" (Curry leaves rice) and ₹3 for a plate of curd rice.[9][10]

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 ₹2.64 for an idli, ₹9.73 for a unit of sambar rice and ₹4.44 for a unit of curd rice, incurring a total loss of about ₹2.70 crore (US$340,000) a year.[11] There was opposition in Tirunelveli to the appropriation of governments funds to this scheme.[12] Concerns were also raised about the effects subsidised canteens can have on 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.[13]

• In Chennai[14]

• Amma Kudineer
• Ahar Yojana, a similar scheme in Odisha
• Indira Canteens, a similar scheme in Karnataka