Andhra Pradesh: Poor, Commoners Line Up As Anna Canteens Reopen

Vijayawada: A large number of poor and common people lined up in front of the NTR Anna canteens that reopened from Friday, August 15, and started serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at a subsidised price of Rs 5 per plate.

Within the NTR district, 14 Anna canteens reopened after a long hiatus of five years, including 11 canteens in Vijayawada city.

NTR district collector Dr. G. Srijana, along with Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) commissioner H.M. Dhyanchandra, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), and MLAs Gadde Ram Mohan Rao, Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao and Y. Sujana Chowdary, separately inaugurated the canteens set up at Patamata Koneru Basavaiah ZPHS, Budameru Junction, Gandhi Nagar, and I Town Gandhi Park.

Speaking on the occasion, MP Sivanath underlined the NDA alliance government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has shown its commitment to the welfare of the poor by reopening as many as 100 Anna canteens within 60 days of coming to power in Andhra Pradesh.

The Vijayawada MP pointed out that the earlier TD government had successfully run Anna canteens between 2014 and 2019. Telugu Desam ran these canteens even while in opposition, with Telugu Desam leaders spending their own money, he maintained.

Collector Srijana said the district administration has made elaborate arrangements for providing quality food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The canteens also have RO plants for providing drinking water, apart from wash basins and toilets for the convenience of people.

VMC commissioner Dhyanchandra said the municipal corporation has appointed special in-charges to ensure that Anna canteens are properly maintained.