Anna canteens for the benefit of the poor, says minister Bharath

Minister for Food Processing and Industries TG Bharath served food to the beneficiaries at the Anna Canteen on the grounds of the Government General Hospital in Kurnool on Friday. | Photo credit: ARRANGEMENT

Food Processing and Industries Minister TG Bharath on Friday (May 22, 2026) slammed YSR Congress Party leaders for being “unable to tolerate the welfare measures being implemented by the Chandrababu Naidu-led government”, claiming that schemes like Anna Canteens directly benefit the poor.

Here on Friday, the Minister inspected the Anna Canteen located in the VFN. “During the previous government, Anna canteens were closed, depriving the poor of affordable food,” he said.

He said the current government is committed to addressing hunger through welfare initiatives. He interacted with elderly people, women, patients and nurses in the hospital. Mr. Bharath inquired about the quality, taste and quantity of the food served and asked the visitors to register their complaints, if any.

Mr. Bharath also inspected the canteen area and later served food to the beneficiaries. He said the objective of the inspection was to understand the ground reality and ensure that people visiting the government hospital were getting proper food.

The minister noted that the hospital is visited daily by patients and nurses from several regions and the Anna canteen has become a major source of relief for the economically weaker sections.

“People are expressing satisfaction with the quality of the food. We are getting a positive response from almost everyone,” he said.

Published – 22 May 2026 20:30 IST