Not yet classifiedAMMAU

Amma Unavagam (Amma Canteens)

A food subsidization program by the Government of Tamil Nadu providing high-quality, hot meals at highly subsidized, nominal rates.

OtherExisting Micro / MSME
States:Tamil Nadu
Benefit
Non-monetary
Typical lead time
Phase
Benefits

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Opens the official portal · We never charge

Official fee

₹0 — completely free

Meals are sold directly at standard printed rates (e.g. ₹1 for Idli, ₹5 for Sambar rice). No card registration or online fees apply.

Beware of lookalike portals

Purchase meals only inside official Amma Unavagam canteens. Do not use online apps or pay middlemen for coupon booking.

Only the "Apply on official portal" button above leads to the verified government site.

Highlights and Media

Scheme Explainer Video

Amma Unavagam (Amma Canteens) Video Guide

Provided by Google NotebookLM

Key Highlights

Highly Subsidized Meals

Offers fresh breakfast and lunch options starting at just ₹1 (Idli) and ₹3-₹5 (Rice dishes).

Daily Urban Food Security

Provides vital food security to daily wage earners, migrants, and workers in cities.

Women Empowerment

Many canteens are operated and managed directly by local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under Mission Shakti.

Amma Unavagam Subsidized Menu Prices

Comparison of nominal customer prices for key breakfast and lunch items

Idli (per piece)

₹1.00

Steamed hot rice cake, served with sambar and chutney for breakfast.

Curd Rice

₹3.00

A plate of classic curd rice served during lunch hours.

Sambar Rice / Pongal

₹5.00

Nutritious mixed lentil rice (sambar sadham) or hot pongal for lunch.

Who is eligible

  • Any individual visiting the official canteen inside Tamil Nadu municipal areas.

Eligibility rules · v1 · effective 1 January 2020

Who is not eligible

  • Open to all members of the public at designated local municipal canteens in Tamil Nadu.

How to apply

  1. Visit Local Canteen

    Walk into any neighborhood Amma Unavagam canteen during serving hours (breakfast or lunch).

    Typical duration · 1 day

  2. Select Menu & Buy Coupon

    Select the desired food items at the counter and pay the nominal subsidized price to receive food coupons.

    Typical duration · 1 day

  3. Collect and Dine

    Hand over coupons at the serving counter to receive hot freshly prepared meals.

    Typical duration · 1 day

Sources

Additional Details

Amma Unavagam (Amma Canteens) is a highly successful food subsidization and social welfare program run by the municipal corporations and urban local bodies under the Government of Tamil Nadu. The initiative aims to support economically disadvantaged sections of society, including daily wage laborers, pushcart vendors, students, and low-income urban workers, by serving freshly cooked hot meals at extremely low, subsidized prices (e.g. ₹1 for idli, ₹5 for sambar rice). Operating out of hundreds of neighborhood locations, it serves as a critical food security net in urban Tamil Nadu.

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