Hyderabad: Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, GHMC Mayor Dr. Bonthu Rammohan and Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar participated in a function to mark completion of six years of Annapurna Rs 5 Meals Scheme at Ameerpet here today.
Speaking on the occasion, Srinivas Yadav said the Annapurna Scheme was a big success because of Hare Krishna Hare Rama Movement and involvement of the State government officials in the scheme. The scheme was first launched at Sarai Nampally in March 2014. Now it is operational in 150 centers under GHMC limits with over 30,000 people from all walks of life are utilizing the facilities.
In Ameerpet center, nearly 1,200 people are taking meals every day. Besides, under the leadership and guidance of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and MA&UD Minister K.T. Rama Rao, the facilities like CC roads, street lighting, Model Markets were being built. With allround development in providing basic amenities, the Hyderabad city stands ahead of other cities in the country.
Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, said the Hare Krishana organization was providing a good quality and healthy food. To reach more people, these centers were opened at Hospitals, labor working places and at study centers. Five mobile autos were pressed into service to provide meals to the aged people and physically challenged persons at their place, he added.
Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar said with the encouragement of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and MA&UD Minister K.T. Rama Rao, the scheme spread to 150 centers till now and around four crore people utilized it. The object of the scheme was that no one should stay hungry without a meal and with Rs 5 a meal, everyone can afford to it. Even beggars, unemployed youths, attendants of patients and those visiting the city on works can have meal. Even the students, who come to city for examinations can have meals at the study centers in the afternoon without wasting time in preparation of meals at their stay place.
Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Trust Foundation president Satya Gowrachandra Das said the Annapurna scheme was operating in 16 Municipalities, spread over 176 centers with 45,000 people utilizing it. Corporator N. Sheshakumari, MA&UD Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar, GHMC Commissioner Lokesh Kumar, Additional Commissioner B. Santosh, Zonal Commissioner Praveenya and Deputy Commissioner Geetha Radhika participated in the program.
