As a Sankranti bonanza for rural households, the Andhra Pradesh government is preparing to roll out 70 new Anna Canteens across rural Assembly constituencies and mandal headquarters, significantly expanding the state’s low-cost food security programme. The canteens are expected to be inaugurated simultaneously between January 13 and 15, coinciding with the Sankranti festival.

Construction and preparatory works for the new canteens, currently at various stages, are scheduled to be completed by January 10. The initiative marks the first major expansion of the Anna Canteen network into rural areas after the formation of the coalition government.

Since coming to power, the government has already operationalised 205 Anna Canteens in urban and municipal areas, where the scheme has received a strong response. These canteens collectively serve over two lakh people every day, offering breakfast and dinner, along with lunch, at a highly subsidised price of Rs 5 per meal.

According to official data, the 205 urban Anna Canteens have so far served food to over 7.20 crore beneficiaries. Of these, around 3.16 crore meals were lunches, while 2.62 crore people availed breakfast and 1.42 crore benefited from dinner services. The highest footfall has been recorded in Visakhapatnam, NTR, and Guntur districts, reflecting the growing dependence of low-income groups on the scheme.

Encouraged by the success in cities and towns, several MLAs urged the government to extend the programme to rural areas, where migrant workers, agricultural labourers, and economically weaker sections face similar food insecurity. Responding to these requests, the government cleared the proposal for 70 additional canteens in villages and mandal centres.

Speaking to Metro India, Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Uma, who is involved in the rollout of the scheme, said the objective was to ensure that affordable, nutritious food reaches the poorest sections beyond urban limits. “Anna Canteens are not just a welfare measure but a dignity-driven intervention. No one should go hungry, irrespective of where they live,” the official said.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has consistently projected the Anna Canteen programme as a cornerstone of the government’s pro-poor governance model. “Providing a full meal at Rs 5 is not charity; it is the government’s responsibility towards its people. By extending Anna Canteens to rural areas, we are ensuring that economic hardship does not translate into hunger,” the Chief Minister has said.

With the rural expansion, the government expects the daily beneficiary count to rise substantially, further strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s food security safety net ahead of the festive season.