At a time when there was criticism that schemes launched under ‘brand Amma’, especially Amma Canteens, were falling out of favour due to poor implementation and maintenance, the Tamilnadu government proved its critics wrong on Monday, as Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami revived the ambitious Amma Unavagam project by launching cost-free food scheme for registered construction workers. By doing this, Palaniswami has taken the vision of his mentor and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa a step ahead. A total of 43,631 construction workers registered with the Tamilnadu Construction Workers Welfare Board can avail of food free of cost from 400 Amma Canteens that come under Chennai Corporation.
The scheme was launched through the amendment of Tamilnadu Manual Workers (Construction Workers) Welfare Scheme 1994. The Amma Canteens will keep a record of the monthly bills of each registered worker. This amount will be paid by the welfare board according to the original rates. This is yet another pro-poor move of the AIADMK government and this will certainly win the hearts of the poor. Construction workers are one of the marginalised groups of society and they toil a lot to make ends meet. Filling their stomachs free of cost will help them save on their food bills, which was hitherto burning a hole in their pocket.
On Monday, the Chief Minister launched another project as well – the much talked about Rs 2,000 special finance assistance scheme for people living below the poverty line. He had announced it during the budget session of the Tamilnadu Assembly this year. He said the money was being given on the grounds that poor people in several districts have been affected by Cyclone Gaja, and drought-like situation following the failure of monsoon. The measure would cost the State exchequer Rs 1,200 crore and the money would be allocated in the supplementary estimates for 2018-19. In all, 35 lakh BPL families in the rural areas and 25 lakh BPL families in urban areas will benefit from this assistance. Though freebies are not that welcome, they become essential to uplift the poor in a State like Tamilnadu and it is heartening that the government is doing its best on this front.