Anna Canteens, a generous initiative aimed at providing hygienic food at a minimal cost of Rs 5 to the needy launched by the TDP regime in 2018, will soon reopen in Andhra Pradesh across all major centres. The previous government led by YSRCP closed these canteens and left many of the buildings abandoned immediately after coming to power in 2019.
Last week, Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu signed the file which proposed the renovation of these canteens and also make them operational shortly. Accordingly, the municipal commissioners in various districts have been instructed to kick start the activities immediately. Subsequently, work have begun in no time and they are going to reopen in a phased manner.
Municipal Administration and Rural Development minister Narayana announced that 100 Anna Canteens will be launched in the next 21 days. Immediately after taking charge of the ministry, Narayana review the status of Anna Canteens across the state and ordered the officials to take measures to revive the canteens in all centres. Akshay Patra foundation is likely to come forward once again to support the government to run the initiative.
Narayana said the government is planning to restore all 200 centres in the coming days. He informed that tiffins and meals will be provided for a subsidized price of Rs 5 as it was done earlier.
In 2018, the TDP govt constructed about 200 dedicated buildings to run Anna canteen with a cost of about 80 crore and opened about 181 of them by 2018. The food including breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided at 5 per person (each session) in the canteens. State govt set up steam cooking machinery in the canteen buildings to provide hot and hygienic food.
However, YSRCP govt closed them despite demands from the poor to continue the canteens at least by changing the name. During its tenure, YSRCP govt renamed many welfare schemes to continue them. However, it allegedly turned a blind eye to the fact that thousands of people were being benefited from the subsidised hygienic food that was being served in Anna canteens and chose to close them.