Plan to start eateries for daily wagers

The Chennai Corporation wants to formalise the concept of ‘Kai yendhi bhavan' or roadside eateries. It has proposed to set up around 1,000 eateries across the city in an effort to provide quality, hygienic food to the city's floating population of 10 lakh.

“We would provide good food at low cost to daily wage labourers, autorickshaw drivers, unorganised workers, and school and college children. We would provide only breakfast and lunch. We plan to start 200 eateries on a trial basis. People running roadside eateries can also apply and we are willing to pay them wages,” Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy told the Corporation Council on Wednesday.

The mayor said self-help group members would be roped in to prepare food and transport it to the eateries. The food would be prepared at the four community kitchens of the Corporation from where food is supplied to relief centres during the monsoons. The commodities would be procured from the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, he said.

committee comprising officials, including Health Officer, Revenue Officer and the heads of three Corporation zones of Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Teynampet, would be formed to oversee the setting up of the eateries and their operations. A resolution seeking permission from the State government to set up the facilities was adopted by the councillors through voice vote.

However, consumers and those in the business say it is too early to form opinions.

B. Gunasundari, who runs a breakfast centre from her home at B. Kalyanapuram in Vyasarpadi, said: “I mainly cater to schoolchildren. My work begins by 4 a.m. We sell idli, pongal, vada, sambar, vadakari and chutney. We purchase broken rice at Rs. 20 a kg because children don't like the taste of PDS rice. I sell idlis at Rs. 1.5 a piece and at times customers complain about the high cost. But they still come to our centre as we prepare hygienic food.” 

Asked about the Corporation's proposal, she said it would only lead to ruining the businesses of many poor families.

K. Mukundan, a car driver, said that as he is always on the move, he finds it convenient to eat outside. “My wife cannot pack food early in the morning. I usually eat in small restaurants. But, when there are no hotels nearby, I eat at roadside eateries. I choose eateries that are crowded as the quality would be good,” he said.

The Hindu :CHENNAI, February 23, 2012