Vijayawada: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu would launch the Anna Canteens at a state-level event in Gudivada on Independence Day on Thursday, fulfilling Telugu Desam’s election promise of offering subsidised food to the needy at the rate of `5.
Under this scheme, 100 Anna Canteens would be started in the first phase this week. The launch event would be held at Ramabrahmam Municipal Park in Gudivada.
The CM’s previous plan was to hold the launch event in North Andhra but the MLC election code being in force, the venue was changed to Gudivada in Krishna district.
Naidu recalled that the Anna Canteens operated by the last TD government were shut down by the YSRC government. “Our target this time was to open the Anna canteens in the first 100 days of the present government. But, the canteens would start functioning two months earlier than expected," he said.
Urban development minister Ponguru Narayana said that until 2018, Anna Canteens supplied food to 4.60 crore people. The next day, the remaining 99 canteens wouldl be opened across the state by ministers, MPs, MLAs and other public representatives. “The target is to open a total of 203 Anna Canteens. The remaining 103 canteens will be operational from September 5,” he said.
Krishna district officials on Wednesday reviewed the arrangements for the CM’s visit and the launch programme.
