Nellore deprived of NTR Anna Canteens
Nellore is missing in the list of locations that have been allotted Anna Canteens with neither the city itself nor other parts of the district being considered by the government for setting up the affordable hotels.
- Nellore missing in the list of locations allotted Anna Canteens
- Urban poor and migrating labourers cannot afford exorbitant prices of commercial hotels
- No revenue division is considered for a canteen
Nellore: Nellore is missing in the list of locations that have been allotted Anna Canteens with neither the city itself nor other parts of the district being considered by the government for setting up the affordable hotels. The government is proposing to set up Anna Canteens across the state in Vizag city, Vijayawada, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Kakinada, Guntur, Prakasam, Tirupati, Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur and Hindupur.
But, industrially vibrant and thickly populated Nellore has not found a place in the first phase list. “a huge population who rely on petty shops apart from labourers engaged in construction work, cannot afford to pay the exorbitant prices of commercial hotels in Nellore city. They have to spend at least Rs. 50-60 for a normal plate meal. Considering these factors affordable Anna canteens are required in Nellore. It is unfortunate that the government has ignored Nellore in the allocation of these canteens,” said Ch Rajagopal, CPM district secretary.
In fact, there are important revenue divisions in the district such as Nellore, Kavali, Gudur, Naidupet, and Atmakur but none of these were allocated the canteen. Interestingly, some private persons are running subsidized hotels in Nellore city on charity basis with price per meal ranging between Rs. 20-25. The other hotels are charging Rs. 80-120 per meal. Even middle class people are not able to afford the prices in city hotels.
Small hotels that rely on regular visit of students are also charging Rs.50-60 per meal. “We have not proposed any canteen in the district and the state government had allotted them on its own. So, there is no question about the Nellore district authorities rejecting any such proposal,” said T Dharma Reddy, district supplies officer. AP Civil Supplies Minister Paritala Sunita had recently announced in assembly that the state government will be opening the canteens in 11 districts in the first phase.
