NCP to launch Tai's kitchens across state

Mumbai: Following in the tradition of the Amma canteen in Tamil Nadu, the Anna canteen in Andhra Pradesh and the Aam Aadmi canteen in Delhi, Maharashtra is all set to get its Tai canteen, which will be launched by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Named after party MP Supriya Sule, the first Tai canteen, will be inaugurated on July 22 in  Badlapur, Thane district, the birthday of NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

 Interestingly, while the canteens in the other states are running with government help, this canteen will be run by the NCP with contributions of vegetables and oil from citizens.

“We aim to provide employment to women self-help groups as well as affordable and quality food for the common public. The rates will be affordable with sabji priced at Rs 4 and per roti at Rs 2,” said Ashish Damle, Badlapur corporator.

“We will also seek donations to run the canteen. But we are not looking at monetary help. We will accept oil, pulses, wheat, and vegetables as donation. There are many people and organisations who would wish to contribute,” said Mr Damale.

In recent times, this idea of canteen became popular in Tamil Nadu when AIADMK leader and chief minister J. Jaylalitha started the Amma canteen chain. The idea was later implemented in Karnataka as the Indira canteen, in Andhra as the Anna canteen and Aaam Adami canteen in Delhi.

“This will be first of the  chain. We are planning for more such canteens across state. The aim is to take the idea to every teshil,” said Datta Balsaraf, the man behind the idea. “The hunger index has shown us the seriousness of the starvation issue in India. Poor and marginalised people must get proper food and shelter. We, as a society, need to seriously focus on this issue,” he said.