Eight Amma canteens — five in Ramanathapuram and three in Sivaganga districts — became the centres of attraction after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa inaugurated them through video-conferencing on Sunday afternoon.
The canteens, offering food items at lower cost for the benefit of daily wage workers, autorickshaw drivers, the poor and the downtrodden, had been ready for opening for about six months, but could not be opened as they awaited the return of Ms. Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister.
The Municipalities of Ramanathapuram, Kilakarai, Parakamudi and Rameswaram in Ramanthapuram district and Sivaganga, Karaikudi and Devakottai in Sivaganga district celebrated the return of Ms. Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister by distributing the food items free of cost on the first day.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP A. Anwar Raja, accompanied by Ramanathapuram Municipal Chairperson S.K.G.S. Santhana Lakshmi and Commissioner B. Mohamed Siraj, launched the distribution of food items at Amma canteens at the new bus stand and at the Government Hospital.
The Chairpersons, Vice Chairmen and Commissioners launched the distribution in Kilakarai, Paramakudi and Rameswaram, official sources said.
In Sivaganga, Collector T. Munusamy, accompanied by local MP P.R. Senthilnathan, launched the distribution of food items in Karaikudi, while District Revenue Offiver Ilango did it in Sivaganga after Ms. Jayalalithaa inaugurated the canteens.
In Devakottai, Revenue Divisional Officer Chidambaram launched the distribution.
Dindigul
Ms. Jayalalithaa inaugurated six canteens in Theni and five in Dindigul districts and a police quarters in Dindigul through video-conferencing.
Two canteens – at Dindigul Government Hospital and near the flower market – and one each in Oddancahtram, Palani, Kodaikanal were opened. Police quarters behind Dindigul south police station was also inaugurated.
In Kodaikanal, it was just a formal inauguration. No free feast was prepared owing to poor arrangements of Kodaikanal municipality.
Theni
Amma Canteens at Theni-Allinagaram, Periyakulam, Bodi, Chinnamanur, Cumbum and Goodalur were inaugurated. A water purification plant was also commissioned. Women to function these centres were trained at Amma canteens in Madurai, said Collector N. Venkatachalam.
Virudhunagar
Two canteens were opened at Railway Feeder Road and on the Government Hospital premises in Virudhunagar. Collector V. Rajaraman participated in the inauguration, according to a press release
