VISAKHAPATNAM: Just two days since they were inaugurated, problems start to roll on at the Anna Canteens. Several Anna canteens in Vizag have been facing the issue of boozers herein, as men in inebriated condition are creating disturbance leading to heated arguments over there.
Due to this, many women are reluctant to come to Anna canteens.
The TDP's prestigious 25 Anna Canteens were started with much hype on July 11 in Vizag along with other parts of state.
It also received huge response for the food for just Rs 5 from the general public, especially from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The Canteens are seen flocked by huge number of people since the day of inaugural for three times a day. Senior citizens, number of women along with their kids and working labour are most to take meals over there. However menace of boozers have been a issue over the canteens.
Many men especially daily-wage labours are coming to Anna canteens directly from wine shops. With no separate queue lines for the genders, standing in queues has been torture for women along with boozers. Even few boozers are entering heated arguments over other public, while few are creating ruckus by shouting and singing over there. This has been embarrassing situations for many women and tending them to leave the premises.
When Express visited a Anna Canteen near Regional Eye Hospital (REH), couple of boozers have been arguing with public over why the queue line is not moving. One P Meenamma, a daily labour who works at construction site nearby along with few other women were seen leaving the premises. "There are no separate queue lines for women. Thats not a problem, but it feels disgusting when boozers come to canteens, stand beside us with bad odours. The way they eat is horrible. So we are leaving", she told Express. However few other women were seen adjusting to the situation and moving on by going to other side.
When Express contacted Dharma Rao, a member working at Anna Canteen, he said that number of men come after consuming alcohol, especially daily-wage labours, senior citizens and few auto-rickshaw drivers. However if we are damn sure they are drunk, we are asking to leave. In case, we are not, we couldnt ask public like that, he said. This has been the situation at few more Anna canteens in One Town, MVP Colony, Marripalem, Gopalpatnam and few other areas.
Expecting huge crowd, additional security was dispersed to the Anna canteens during the inaugural. But at present, the canteens are managed with one security guard, while token distribution, food supply is managed by team. Public demand couple of security guard and strict vigilance over boozers.
"Anna canteens have only one security guard, who has been always busy in standing at the gate and allowing people in, keeping in view the crowd. There should be few more security personnel, atleast two to check the issue", said M Ram Babu, a private employee who was having his meal at Marripalem Anna Canteen.