HYDERABAD: The Annapurna meal scheme which offers hot and hygienic food at Rs 5 in Hyderabad will now be extended to all urban local bodies across the State by the Telangana Director of Municipal Administration. DMA director TK Sreedevi issued directions to all the Municipal Commissioners of the ULBs, except GHMC, to implement the scheme in their respective ULBs after examining the feasibility. The programme has already crossed the milestone of average 1 crore meals in a month.
“We started a few centres in Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation and wanted other ULBs to set up such centres after studying the feasibility,” Sreedevi told Express.
The ULBs have been asked to approach corporate houses and NGOs for sponsorship, and agencies with hygienic kitchens would be selected for preparation of wholesome meals. “The process would take a month or more. The number of centres would vary in municipalities and corporations,” she said. GHMC with the support of Hare Krishna Movement has set up around 150 centres.
35-40k meals served daily
The Annapurna meals scheme was launched in March 2014. It provides 1,500 meals a day. Currently, 35,000 to 40,000 meals per day is being served at 150 centres in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
The Hare Krishna Mission Charitable Foundation has an established state-of-the-art kitchen in Patancheru and Narsingi.
The menu includes rice (400 gm), dal (100 gm), curry (100 gm) and a spoon of pickle. The total cost of the plate meal comes to around Rs 24.25.