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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Why We Need to Open 'Amma Canteens' All Over India -Reetika Khera

Why We Need to Open 'Amma Canteens' All Over India -Reetika Khera

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published Published on Dec 11, 2016   modified Modified on Dec 11, 2016
-TheWire.in

Jayalalithaa’s schemes – such as her canteens and baby care kits – may appear to be populist at first glance, but are actually quite entrenched in a welfare tradition.

For development economists, Tamil Nadu offers many lessons in social democracy. The state has distinguished itself with visionary schemes – such as noon meals (known as the mid-day meal scheme nationally) and the Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefits Scheme, which provides Rs 12,000 (reportedly raised to Rs 18,000 recently) to all pregnant women. Both schemes are part of the National Food Security Act, though maternity entitlements have yet to be implemented.

Equally important is the fact that the state has implemented central schemes reasonably well. To its credit is another major social policy intervention – the Integrated Child Development Services scheme for children under the age of six years – making it one of the few states that have managed to implement it well for many years.

In healthcare too, Tamil Nadu is among the few states with a functional public health facilities network. In the 1990s, when the central government forced all other states to target their public distribution system (PDS) for the poor, Tamil Nadu refused and continued with a universal PDS.

But not everyone is willing to acknowledge Tamil Nadu’s achievements. There is a tendency in mainstream media to use disparaging descriptions – such as ‘populist’ for pro-poor initiatives. There is a difference between truly populist measures that reinforce or condone regressive cultural practices (for instance, giving gold and cash for a girl’s at weddings, pawning off free television sets) and measures for which elected governments the world over bear responsibility (maternity entitlements, healthcare, food security measures).

Sadly, too often, prominent commentators and senior journalists routinely gloss over these important distinctions – except perhaps when the leaders die – labelling them all as ‘doles’ or ‘freebies’.

The recently deceased J. Jayalalithaa – who was popularly known as ‘Amma’ –  was not the mother of a welfare state in Tamil Nadu. The tradition can be traced back to its origins with earliest chief ministers and the Dravidian movement. But equally, there is no doubt that Jayalalitha has left her mark as well.

It is hard to delineate Jayalalithaa’s contributions. Often, it took the form of strengthening or expanding existing programmes. But she added many new programmes. Some of her initiatives did have elements of populism – such as cash incentives for the wedding. But one could equally argue that there were progressive elements even in these schemes – protecting the girl child, encouraging girl’s education, relieving women from the drudgery of their daily lives.

Yet there are at least two programmes that are unique in their true social democratic spirit – Amma canteens and Amma baby care (ABC) kits.

Please click here to read more.
 

TheWire.in, 8 December, 2016, http://thewire.in/85447/jayalalithaa-amma-social-democracy/


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