Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh inaugurates 'Anna Canteen' in Guntur's Mangalagiri

Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 16 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh inaugurated 'Anna Canteen' in Guntur's Mangalagiri town.
Speaking on occasion, Nara Lokesh said, "We are committed to our manifesto, and we have restarted Anna Canteens. The Anna Canteen initiative, which we originally launched in 2018, was halted by the previous government."
Reiterating his party's poll promises, he said that welfare and development are the two pillars of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Minister Lokesh also criticised former Andhra CM and said, "I am directly questioning Jagan Mohan Reddy. Is Jagan Mohan Reddy greater than Ambedkar? The government has not removed his name from there. How can this be considered vindictive politics when some Dalits themselves have removed his name?"
"We are committed to the skill census, and we have initiated it as a pilot project. We have submitted a few reports to CM Chandrababu Naidu, and reviews are ongoing. We will release the results soon," he added.
Andhra Endowment Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Ponguru Narayana, and MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, along with District Collector O Anand also launched the Anna Canteens in three locations in Nellore today.

A total of seven Anna Canteens have been set up in Nellore City and Rural areas. Additionally, 10 more canteens will be launched in Sullurupeta, Gudur, Kavali, and Kovur, totalling 100 canteens across AP, inaugurated by MLAs and MPs. Preparations are underway to set up 210 more Anna Canteens by September 1.
Speaking on occasion, Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said that the previously closed Anna Canteens in Nellore district has been reopened with a budget of Rs 72.50 lakhs. The canteens aim to provide quality food to the poor at just Rs 5, serving 300 to 500 people, he said.
Notably, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu relaunched the Anna Canteens in the state on Thursday and said that the main aim of the Anna Canteens is to ensure no one remains hungry. CM Naidu said that the meal which costs Rs 5 per is of great help to the poor, the daily-wage earners and the labourers.
The Chief Minister, and his wife, Nara Bhuvaneswari, had their meal along with the citizens after the relaunch event held at Gudivada. He said an action plan will be formulated to run these canteens permanently and without any hurdles.
CM Naidu said that 203 canteens will be launched across the state and the total expenditure for maintaining them is Rs 53 lakh per day. "More and more persons are showing interest to liberally donate for the Anna Canteens, which are launched taking inspiration from the TDP founder, the Late NT Rama Rao, and the most popular Dokka Seethamma," he added. (ANI)