• By Imran Zafar
  • Tue, 06 Aug 2024 07:11 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

The Andhra Pradesh government will reopen 100 'Anna' canteens on August 15 that will provide meals for Rs 5 in several parts of the state. Municipal Administration Minister P Narayan announced on Tuesday that these Anna canteens will be established in 33 municipalities across Andhra Pradesh. He urged the municipal commissioner to prioritize the canteen setup for the upcoming week and directed officials to coordinate the kitchen installations.

During a video conference with municipal commissioners, P Narayana reviewed the progress of canteen constructions. Special Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Singhal, Director Hari Narayana and other senior officials participated in the discussion. The minister emphasised the reopening of these canteens, a project initiated by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu upon assuming office in June.

The Anna canteens, named after TDP founder and former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao, were originally launched between 2014 and 2019 to provide affordable meals to the poor and middle class. However, after the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) led by Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power in 2019, all 204 canteens were shut down amid allegations of corruption in the scheme.

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The TDP accused the YSRCP government of political vendetta, while some canteens were reopened and renamed as "Rajanna" canteens after the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

With the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance's victory in June, CM Naidu decided to revive the Anna canteens. Minister P Narayana mentioned that the government is considering awarding the food supply contract to the Akshaya Patra Foundation, which has expressed readiness to start operations within three weeks. 

(With IANS Inputs)