Home Minister Anitha Opens Anna Canteen in Payakaraopeta
The minister affirmed that the NDA government has revived the Anna Canteens as its flagship programme and is opening them in rural mandals in addition to urban centres.
Visakhapatnam: Home minister Vangalapudi Anitha inaugurated a newly built Anna Canteen in Payakaraopeta town on Saturday.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 61 lakh, the facility is part of the government’s effort to provide affordable and nutritious meals to people experiencing poverty. Anitha personally served food at the canteen, had a meal, and sought feedback from people on the quality of food and service.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the minister highlighted that Anna canteens have been started to ensure food security to the underprivileged. She criticised the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy administration for closing down the canteens.
Anitha regretted that despite appeals to continue the initiative under the name “Rajanna Canteens,” no action had been taken by the YSRC government between 2019 and 2024.
The minister affirmed that the NDA government has revived the Anna Canteens as its flagship programme and is opening them in rural mandals in addition to urban centres.
She announced that another Anna Canteen would soon be established near the Nakkapalli Addaroad junction in Payakaraopeta constituency. She expressed gratitude to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, and Education minister Nara Lokesh for strengthening the Anna canteens initiative.
Later in the day, Anitha participated in the “Swarnandhra Swacchandhra” programme at Sarayya Lake in Payakaraopeta. Under the slogan “Jalam–Jeevam,” she joined a waste removal drive and felicitated sanitation workers for their service. She directed officials to prepare development plans for the lake. She suggested a walking track around the lake.
