Ten budget canteens were inaugurated by the Vellore Corporation on Sunday evening. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa inaugurated the canteens through video conferencing.
Hundreds of party cadre and public gathered on the occassion. The canteens were opened at Gandhi Nagar in Katpadi, in Anna Salai, Arni Road in Virupatchipuram, Neduntheru in Kasba, Beedi Workers Quarters and near Vellore Collector’s Office in Sathuvachari, Bharathi Nagar in Tharapadavedu, Venkatapuram Road in Alamelumangapuram, near Corporation Schools in Bagayam and Kosapet.
Some centres were constructed exclusively for the canteen, while a few were opened in the existing buildings of the Corporation. “The halls were designed according to the layout specifications sent by the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply,” said Mayor P Karthiyayini.
As many as 120 women of ten self-help groups were employed at these canteens. Each centre would prepare 1,200 idlis, sambar rice and curd rice for 300 persons on a daily basis. Idlis would be available between 7 am and 10 am and will cost `1 per idli. Sambar rice and curd rice will be available between noon and 3 pm and wil cost `5 and `3, respectively.
Minister for Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare, A Mohammedjan, Vellore MLA Dr V S Vijay and Collector P Sankar were present at the inauguration.