india

Updated: Sep 18, 2016 10:46 IST

Brand Amma just got bigger on Saturday with Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa announcing the government would construct air-conditioned Amma marriage halls for people from economically weaker sections who otherwise cannot afford to hire such halls.

In a statement in Chennai she said, 11 Amma marriage halls would be constructed at 11 locations across the state at a cost of Rs 83 crore.

“I have ordered Amma marriage halls for the benefit of poor. The halls will have facilities including air-conditioned rooms for bride and groom, guest rooms, dining hall and kitchen,” the chief minister said. The Tamil Nadu housing board and cooperative societies will be building the Amma marriage halls.

The halls will be built in Tondiarpet, Velachery, Ayapakkam, Periyar Nagar, Korattur in Chennai, Anna Nagar in Madurai, Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli, Salem in Salem, Kodungaiyur in Tiruvallur, Udumalaipet in Tirupur.

The Amma marriage halls are the latest addition to the list of subsidized essential items that Jayalalithaa government distributes across the state as part of welfare measures. It all started with Amma Unavagams (Canteens) in 2013 that served hot cooked food at rock bottom prices.

The Amma canteens became a runaway hit, giving birth to Brand Amma that Jayalalithaa began building assiduously, adding one item after another so as to touch every aspect of human life.

Brand Amma also offers subsidized cement, medicines, drinking water, fruits and vegetables.