Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh Reopens Anna Canteens in Mangalagiri
Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 16: Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh has reopened the ‘Anna Canteen’ in Mangalagiri town. During the event, Nara Lokesh emphasized the commitment to their manifesto and the revival of Anna Canteens, initially launched in 2018 but halted by the previous government.
He reiterated the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) focus on welfare and development. Lokesh also questioned former Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy’s actions, comparing them to Ambedkar’s legacy.
Minister Lokesh mentioned the initiation of a skill census pilot project, with reports submitted to CM Chandrababu Naidu and ongoing reviews. Results will be released soon.
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 Anna Canteens in three locations in Nellore. Seven canteens have been set up in Nellore City and Rural areas, with plans for 10 more in Sullurupeta, Gudur, Kavali, and Kovur, totaling 100 canteens across Andhra Pradesh. Preparations are underway to establish 210 more Anna Canteens by September 1.
Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy highlighted the reopening of previously closed Anna Canteens in Nellore district with a budget of Rs 72.50 lakhs, aiming to provide quality food to the poor at just Rs 5, serving 300 to 500 people daily.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu relaunched the Anna Canteens, emphasizing their goal to ensure no one remains hungry. He noted that the Rs 5 meal is a significant help to the poor, daily-wage earners, and laborers. CM Naidu and his wife, Nara Bhuvaneswari, joined citizens for a meal at the relaunch event in Gudivada.
CM Naidu announced an action plan to run the canteens permanently and without hurdles. A total of 203 canteens will be launched across the state, with a daily maintenance cost of Rs 53 lakh. He also mentioned that many people are interested in donating to the Anna Canteens, inspired by TDP founder NT Rama Rao and Dokka Seethamma.
Doubts Revealed
Andhra Pradesh -: Andhra Pradesh is a state in the southern part of India. It has many cities and towns, and Mangalagiri is one of them.
Nara Lokesh -: Nara Lokesh is a politician in India. He is the son of N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Anna Canteen -: Anna Canteen is a place where people can buy good quality food at a very low price, like Rs 5. It is meant to help poor people get affordable meals.
Mangalagiri -: Mangalagiri is a town in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is known for its temples and is part of the Guntur district.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) -: The Telugu Desam Party, or TDP, is a political party in India. It was founded by NT Rama Rao and focuses on the development of the Telugu-speaking people.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu -: Chandrababu Naidu is a politician who has served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He is a member of the Telugu Desam Party.
NT Rama Rao -: NT Rama Rao was a famous actor and politician in India. He founded the Telugu Desam Party and served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Dokka Seethamma -: Dokka Seethamma was a well-known philanthropist in Andhra Pradesh. She was famous for feeding the poor and is an inspiration for the Anna Canteen project.