The canteens have been started in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has inaugurated the first Anna Canteen at Gudivada on the occasion of Independence Day. However, in the remaining districts of the state, 100 canteens were opened on Friday. On Friday, 99 canteens were opened. On the first day, 93,000 people took three meals in the food canteens. Of these, 32,500 had breakfast, 37,500 had lunch, and 23,000 had dinner.
Most of the people across the state are seen near the food canteens during breakfast and lunch hours. Ministers and MLAs supplied food to them in canteens across the state. The authorities have made arrangements near the canteens to avoid any inconvenience to the people. The number of canteens is currently 100 in the state. It spends Rs. 78.75 lakh, which is equivalent to Rs. 19.68 crore on an average of 1.05 lakh plates of food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) per day. As a subsidy, the government will bear Rs 236.25 crore.
The then-TDP government initiated the food canteens in July 2018 to satisfy the hunger of the poor in AP. As many as 183 canteens have been opened across the state. It functioned for 13 months till July 2019. A total number of 4,60,31,660 meals were distributed there. The canteens were closed after the YSRCP won the 2019 elections and assumed power. Even after making a opposition, some TDP leaders operated food canteens in various districts. But now the alliance has promised to revive the canteens as soon as it is able to come to power during the election. Since promising canteens were set up after coming to power.
In all, 100 canteens have been opened at various places in the state. The government has planned to open another 103 canteens by the end of next month. The government predicts that nearly 2.13 lakh people would receive breakfast and lunch daily from the 203 canteens. This amounts to Rs. 1.59 crore. The monthly charge stands at Rs. 39.96 crore. The government announced that in this scenario, it will shoulder a subsidy of Rs 479 crore. The Anna Canteen Charitable Trust, which is registered to accept donations from donors for the running of Anna Canteens, will be open to the public within two to three days. People will be able to make donations through their bank accounts, PhonePe, and QR codes. Several donations have already been made.
