A Corporation survey revealed Amma canteens had seen a drop in customers and revenue.
What’s happening? A survey conducted this month showed the canteens in 7 of the 15 zones didn’t meet their sales target. These had an income of ₹18 crores and losses amounting to ₹95 crores in 2021-22. Despite increasing losses over the years and reduced patronage, Mayor R Priya said there are no plans to close the canteens.
- In some canteens, there is leftover food due to a low number of customers. At one canteen in Tondiarpet, it gets 120 people during breakfast hours and only 20-30 during lunch and dinner.
- The survey was done after the Madras High Court directed the Corporation to show data on food provided to people. Since it didn’t have those details, a baseline survey was decided.
Questionnaire controversy: Some women staff weren’t comfortable answering questions on caste and religion which were included in the 21-question survey. Some customers were unhappy when officials asked them about their marital status, so they stopped asking some questions.