Chennai Corporation to start low-cost theatres

Brand 'Amma' expands from low cost canteens, water, medical shop to theatres

On the first birthday of low cost canteens under the brand 'Amma', Tamil Nadu Government has announced launch of low cost theatres under the brand 'Amma', which would screen Kollywood movies in subsidised rates.

Besides, 20-litre Amma mineral water for the residents and weekly markets in each ward was also announced.

While presenting 2014-15 tax-free budget of The Chennai Corporation, Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy announced that the corporation would open Amma cinema theatres across the city.

On February 19, 2013, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK's Supermo J Jayalalithaa, who also called as Amma (mother) by her followers and well wishers, launched low cost canteens, in a bid to provide a relief for the common man from inflationary pressure. 201 canteens across the 200 wards sold more than eight crore idlis and 1.5 crore plates of sambar rice.

Each idli in these canteen cost Rs 1 and sambar rice Rs 5. Soon these canteens will be serving dinner, according to government sources.

Around 10 lakh people walk into the canteens, said reports, which added, these canteens sold 75 lakh plates of pongal, 37 lakh plates of lemon rice, 31.5 lakh plates of curry leaf rice and 82.5 lakh plates of curd rice generating an income of more than 26 crore.

As yet another initiative, last week in its Budget for 2014-15, Tamil Nadu Government also announced opening of 100 'Amma Marundagam' (medical) shops under Cooperatives along with the existing 210 medical shops run by them to ensure the sale of medicines at reasonable prices to the public. A sum of Rs 20 crore will be used from the Price Stabilisation Fund for this purpose.

Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy also said that the Corporation has proposed to introduce 20-litre Amma mineral water and will start weekly markets in each ward. It may be noted, already 1-litre Amma mineral water bottle was launched last year for Rs 10.