Amma canteens continued to cater to city

As most restaurants shut shop early, they were the only eateries which functioned

In a first, a number of the canteens relaxed their ‘no takeaway’ policy — Photo: K. Pichumani

On Saturday, even as thousands of commercial outlets across the city downed their shutters following the conviction and sentencing of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Amma canteens in most neighbourhoods remained open.

Most restaurants and catering establishments shut shop, and no home deliveries were made after lunch. But for those who depend on the Amma canteens, that did not pose a problem, with the canteens probably the only ‘chain of eateries’ that worked through Saturday.

As a large number of visitors to the city visited the Amma canteens on Saturday, there was a huge rush at the outlets in Gopalapuram, Triplicane and Royapettah. In a first, a number of the canteens relaxed their ‘no takeaway’ policy and permitted customers to take away food packets.

A group of disabled students were among those who benefitted from the canteens. C.M.N. Shariff, of Asha Kiran Residential School for Blind Students in Chickmagalur, said the students were able to avail a good meal at the canteen.

M. Alagarsamy, another visitor to an Amma canteen on Saturday, said the conviction of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was “agonising” for him. A.R. Elishamma, a sweeper, said she was concerned about the possibility of an interruption to innovative welfare measures instituted by the government, such as the canteens.

G. Amudha, of the self-help group in charge of the Amma canteen in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, said, “This job has only empowered us. We will continue to operate even in unfavourable circumstances.”

Cadre threaten shopkeepers

Throughout the city, as speculation grew rife about a possible conviction, partymen began threatening shopkeepers to down shutters. On New Avadi Road, AIADMK cadre demanded that shopkeepers on the stretch shut shop for the day. Partymen bearing party flags went around threatening shopkeepers on Erukancherry High Road in Moolakadai, Pudupet, Mount Road, Tirumangalam, Anna Nagar and R. A. Puram.

Later, when the verdict arrived and scrolls on news channels authoritatively declared the conviction, shopkeepers themselves decided not to take a chance and rolled down their shutters, fearing violence and looting.

By around 5 p.m., most commercial establishments, including those in Adyar, Besant Nagar, T. Nagar, and on L.B. Road, ECR and OMR, had closed for the day and the streets wore a deserted look.

(Additional reportingbyPetlee Peter)