chennai tamil nadu chief secretary k shanmugham is on tuesday likely to review a proposal by greater chennai corporation to create new avenues of revenue seeking funds through corporate social responsibility csr a senior corporation official saidif he approves the proposal we will be able to bring all amma canteens under a trust and solicit csr funds as well as other external donations an official saidthe corporation has made a presentation which shows the monetary losses suffered by the canteens and the strain of around rs 100 crore that it puts on the civic bodys budget every year the 407 canteens make only around rs 3040 crore through food sale every year said corporation sourcesa committee headed by former chief health officer n a senthilnathan and his deputy m jagadeesan had been tasked to look into proposed measures to strike a balance between the social objective of the canteens and the financial dimensionthe proposal has also identified measures to leverage the space inside the amma canteens by setting up stalls for sale of tea and coffee at subsidised rates other suggestions include renting out space to the state governments corporations which make handicrafts for sale vegetable sale and selling space for advertisement especially neon hoardings this is because many canteens occupy prime real estate in busy areas sources said as of now the amma canteens which sell idlis at rs 1 variety rice at rs 3 and chappathi with dal at rs 3 generate a revenue of around rs 30crore every year but the expenditure is around rs 130140crore causing a rs 100crore shortfall in the corporations finances officials said it is mainly because the footfalls at the canteens have been dwindlingany move to increase the price say selling idli at rs 2 is ruled out an official said the government also has to take a call on allocating rs 100crore from the state budget but has not shown any indication as such the official addedsaidai duraisamy former mayor who spearheaded the initiative told toi that the civic body can try procuring tender coconuts through its cooperative societies and sell it at subsidised rates in the canteens he also pointed out that from one kg of rice supplied for rs 1 66 idlis can be made earning rs 66 if supervised properly amma canteens wont face financial issues he said