Chennai, Oct 30:
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council has passed a resolution recommending an increase in the daily wages of women working at Amma Unavagams from Rs 325 to Rs 400. The proposal will be sent to the State government for approval.
The decision was taken at the council meeting held on Thursday. Once approved by the government, the revised wages will benefit 2,848 women employed through self-help groups at the Amma Unavagams operating across Chennai.
The workers, who currently receive Rs 325 per day, will get Rs 400 under the proposed revision. Their monthly earnings are expected to increase from Rs 9,750 to Rs 12,000, based on 30 working days.
The Amma Unavagam scheme was introduced in 2013 to provide affordable food to the public, particularly economically weaker sections, daily wage earners and people visiting government hospitals.
The GCC initially established 407 Amma Unavagams across its 15 zones and seven government hospitals. The number of functioning outlets has since come down to 382.
The women workers are engaged in preparing and serving food, besides carrying out kitchen-related activities and cleaning work. They work in two shifts of eight hours each.
Their daily wage was initially fixed at Rs 300 in 2013 and was increased to Rs 325 in 2024. The latest proposal seeks to provide another increase after nearly two years.
However, trade union representatives have said the proposed increase is inadequate in view of the rising cost of living. CITU Chennai district general secretary R Loganathan pointed out that the workers should ideally receive around Rs 650 a day to maintain the purchasing power of their original wages.
The workers are also not entitled to paid leave, and their wages are deducted for days they remain absent. The council resolution cited the Corporation’s financial position while recommending the revision.
In a separate measure, the GCC has permitted Amma Unavagam workers to display and sell homemade products such as pickles and mixture at the outlets to supplement their earnings.
The proposed wage revision is expected to provide some relief to the women workers, subject to the State government’s approval.