Dhinakaran hails TN CM''s move to improve Amma canteens

I welcome the chief ministers directive to improve infrastructure at more than 600 Amma canteens across the state, including those in Chennai Corporation, to procure urgently needed cooking equipment, and to ensure uninterrupted provision of quality food to the public, he said in a statement.

Hailing the order issued by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to renovate the state-run Amma canteens across Tamil Nadu, AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran on Tuesday urged the State government to expand the scheme further. ''I welcome the chief minister's directive to improve infrastructure at more than 600 Amma canteens across the state, including those in Chennai Corporation, to procure urgently needed cooking equipment, and to ensure uninterrupted provision of quality food to the public'', he said in a statement. Dhinakaran also called Amma canteens, state-sponsored subsidised eateries started by late CM J Jayalalithaa, a lifeline against hunger, benefitting students, workers, etc. ''Sadly, despite its mission of serving the poor and needy, Amma canteens faced severe difficulties during the five years of DMK rule'', he alleged and said, ''staff shortages, equipment scarcities, and politically motivated closures undermined the purpose of the initiative''. Dhinakaran said, ''At this moment, when the chief minister has recognised the importance of Amma canteens and ordered their improvement, I wholeheartedly welcome the decision and call for the opening of Amma canteens in all panchayats across Tamil Nadu to help feed the state's poor and working-class citizens''.