Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s wife, Nara Bhuvaneswari, has contributed Rs 76 lakh for free meals at all Anna canteens in the state on Monday to celebrate her husband’s birthday. Bhuvaneswari, Vice-Chairperson of Heritage Foods and Managing Trustee of NTR Memorial Trust, presented the donation alongside her husband. The donation aims to support the maintenance of Anna Canteens, where meals are provided to the underprivileged for a nominal fee.
“It gave me immense satisfaction to donate Rs 76 lakhs on the occasion of Chandrababu garu’s birthday for the maintenance of Anna Canteens, which provide meals to the poor with dignity in a clean environment for just Rs 5,” Bhuvaneswari expressed. She highlighted the significance of feeding the hungry and praised her husband’s dedication to helping the less fortunate. The couple’s donation will enable free meals at all 269 Anna Canteens across Andhra Pradesh on the specified day.
On April 15, the Chief Minister inaugurated an ‘Anna Canteen’ in Dharanikota of Palnadu district, where he actively engaged with the community by dining with laborers and serving food personally. The state witnessed the launch of 62 new Anna Canteens in rural areas, bringing the total count to 269, including those in urban regions. The Chief Minister also acknowledged the Akshaya Patra Foundation for its consistent food supply to the canteens, emphasizing the vital role these meals play in supporting the vulnerable segments of society.
Reflecting on the government’s initiative to establish ‘Anna Canteens’ across Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister highlighted the significant impact of these canteens in providing affordable meals to various sections of society. With an average of 1,013 individuals benefiting from meals at each Anna Canteen daily, the operational cost per day is estimated at Rs 26,250. Presently, around 2.10 lakh people avail meals through the canteens daily, incurring a total daily expenditure exceeding Rs 54 lakh. The recent addition of 62 rural Anna Canteens will further enhance food accessibility but will require an additional food subsidy of Rs 18 lakh per day, totaling Rs 58 crore annually.
