Visakhapatnam to soon get its first Anna Canteen

Similar to Amma canteens in Tamil Nadu, Anna Canteens are planned to be set up in Visakhapatnam and reportedly, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has identified the sites for the proposed plan. The government is planning to set up at least one Anna canteen in the city by June 2nd.

To set up around 24 canteens, GVMC has identified suitable sites across the city. Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (MAUD) is in touch with various departments concerned to discuss the land which is needed to set up the canteens. The plot for the Anna canteen near Turner’s Choultry belongs to the Endowment Department and another plot near Government Regional Eye Hospital belongs to the health department.

The government has withdrawn the idea of constructing centralized kitchens which supply food for the canteens and are looking forward to private agencies like Akshayapatra for the kitchens’ construction. They are also planning to appoint a private agency to decide the price and menu of the food items.

The state government had sent a team of commissioners from various civic bodies of AP, including GVMC commissioner M Hari Narayanan to Hyderabad and Chennai to observe how Annapurna and Amma canteens are functioned. The team has noticed that the standard menu and price on an average is Rs 5 for breakfast and Rs 10 for both lunch and dinner. The total cost for three meals a day was Rs 57 and customers pay only 25 while the remaining amount comes under government’s subsidy.The government is planning to set up at least one canteen in the city by June 2nd.

Anna canteen will be set up similar to the likes of Amma canteen in Tamil Nadu which were started by the state’s late Chief Minister Sri Jayalalithaa. The canteens run on a food subsidisation programme and supply food at low prices.

Credits: Times Of India