GHMC's Rs-5 Annapurna Bhojana Scheme has fed 10.22 cr people

HYDERABAD: The ambitious Annapurna Bhojana Scheme that is being implemented by the Telangana government headed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao government is satiating the hunger of 10.22 crore people at just Rs 5 each. The scheme is being run successfully with the initiative of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who feels there should be no one left starving.

According to the data released by the GHMC, the Rs-5 Annapurna Bhojana Scheme, which started with eight centres on March 1, 2014, has been increased to 150 centres after the Telangana government was formed and is providing 300 meals per day at each centre, amounting to a total of 45,000 meals per day.

Stating that Rs 198 crores had been spent from 2014 to November 2022 providing 10.22 crore meals, the GHMC said that the number of meals was increasing every year and it (GHMC) was making special efforts to extend this benefit to the poor without compromising on the cost. "The number of meals provided to 9,22,685 people in 2014-15 has gradually increased to 63,23,730 people in 2021-22 amounting to a total of 10.22 crore meals," GHMC asserted.

The GHMC, in its report, also recalled the generosity of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who also extended help to those from other states by providing Rs 5 meals to 2.29 crore at the time of the outbreak of Coronavirus. As part of it, a total of 373 centres have been set up in addition to the permanent centres across GHMC and 259 mobile centres have been set up to provide meals even at night.

Meanwhile, the GHMC also started a pilot project to construct infrastructure at Annapurna Centres at a total of eight places. The infrastructure was arranged at the centre of NTR Vegetable Market Kothapet in Saroornagar Circle, Toli Chowki, Langar House Flyover in Karvan Circle, Satyam Theatre in Khairatabad Circle, Madhapur Opposite Chanda Nagar Circle Awasa, Balanagar Moosapet Circle, Indira Nagar on Balanagar Main Road, Mallareddy Hospital in Suraram at Gazularamaram School, among others.

Chief Minister KCR has decided to provide breakfast, three meals in the afternoon and evening to the family members who are receiving treatment in hospitals so that they don't have to worry about expenses for food and accommodation. Under the auspices of the Medical Health Department, breakfast, lunch and dinner meals are provided for Rs 5 each at 17 government hospitals under GHMC.

Besides this, it is known that GHMC has constructed seven night shelters at a cost of Rs 10.68 crores and spent Rs 212.50 crores from May 2022 to November 2022 providing meals to 8,09,530 people.