AI SummaryTamil Nadu government had announced Kalaignar Canteen Scheme as a poll promise ahead of the 2021 assembly election to set up 500 community kitchens for poor people. The plan was to rename the existing Amma Unavagam (Amma Canteen) scheme as Kalaignar Unavagam and serve food at a subsidised cost. In this article, we will look into the current status of this scheme and how the Amma Canteens are being run today.
As of 2026, the Kalaignar Canteens have not been set up. The DMK government did not complete this promise during its five years in office. Meanwhile, the Amma Canteens continue to operate across the state, and the new government has ordered a full revamp of these community kitchens.
What is TN Kalaignar Canteen Scheme
Tamil Nadu Minister for Food and Civil Supplies R Sakkarapani had said the state planned to open 500 Kalaignar canteens under Kalaignar Unavagam Scheme. The scheme was to be named after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi. AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam had said the move was an attempt to "blackout the earlier Amma Unavagam scheme". The Kalaignar Canteen Scheme was based on the model of community kitchens to address hunger and malnutrition in the state.
Establishing the Kalaignar canteens in 500 locations was part of DMK's poll promise ahead of the 2021 assembly election. However, as per reports published in March 2026, the government did not execute this assurance. The DMK government delivered on several other promises such as Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam and free bus travel for women, but the Kalaignar Canteens were not set up.
Amma Canteens Revamped by New Government
In May 2026, after the new government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay took office, a major revamp of the Amma Canteens was ordered. The Chief Minister directed officials to improve infrastructure, procure more cooking utensils and modern kitchen equipment, and make sure the food served is nutritious, hygienic and consistent in quality and taste.
There are 620 Amma Canteens in Tamil Nadu. Of these, 383 operate under the Greater Chennai Corporation and 237 are spread across other local bodies in the state. The modernisation exercise is expected to be carried out in phases.
Amma canteens run in all the Government Medical College Hospitals and those in the district headquarters for the benefit of patients, attendants and others. The community kitchens under Amma Unavagam Scheme provide one idly for ₹1, pongal for ₹5, variety rice (sambar rice, curry leaves rice and lemon rice) for ₹5 and curd rice for ₹3 during the day, and two chapatis with dal for ₹3 in the evenings.
The Amma Canteen scheme was introduced by the AIADMK government under the tenure of late J Jayalalithaa in 2013. It became a flagship programme of AIADMK and inspired other states like Odisha and Karnataka to propose similar initiatives.
Poor People Benefiting from Amma Canteen Scheme
In the last five months of the earlier period, more than 2.15 crore people were benefited through Amma canteens, which includes 30,490 construction workers, including migrant workers. During the period of Covid and at the time of natural calamities, the food is served free in these Amma canteens. In the 2021-22 financial year, till September, a total of 3,227 metric tonne rice and 362 tonne wheat were used for this Amma Unavagam scheme. Approximately ₹3,50,000 is being spent per kitchen each month.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Kalaignar Canteen Scheme (not launched) |
| Earlier Name | Amma Unavagam (Amma Canteen) Scheme |
| Launched By | Announced by DMK; not implemented |
| Amma Canteens Running | 620 across Tamil Nadu |
| Menu Price | Idli ₹1, pongal ₹5, variety rice ₹5, curd rice ₹3 |
| Official Website | tamilnadu.gov.in |
FAQ's
Was the Kalaignar Canteen Scheme launched?
No. The Kalaignar Canteens were a DMK poll promise from 2021, but the government did not set them up during its five-year term. The existing Amma Canteens continue to run.
Are Amma Canteens still running in 2026?
Yes. There are 620 Amma Canteens in Tamil Nadu, and the new government has ordered a revamp of these canteens to improve food quality and infrastructure.
What is the price of food at Amma Canteens?
Amma Canteens serve one idly for ₹1, pongal for ₹5, variety rice for ₹5 and curd rice for ₹3 during the day, and two chapatis with dal for ₹5 in the evenings.
Source / Reference Link: Vijay's booster for Jayalalithaa-era Amma Canteens