Nara Bhuvaneswari donates Rs 76 lakh for free meals on CM’s Birthday

Bhuvaneswari handed over the cheque to the Anna Canteens CEO at the Chief Minister’s camp office in Amaravati on Sunday. She described the canteens as a lifeline for the poor

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a gesture underscoring compassion and social responsibility, Nara Bhuvaneswari, wife of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, announced a donation of Rs 76 lakh to support free meals at Anna Canteens across the state. The contribution has been made to mark the Chief Minister’s birthday on April 20, with the funds set to provide free food to the poor and needy at all 269 Anna Canteens for a day.

Bhuvaneswari handed over the cheque to the Anna Canteens CEO at the Chief Minister’s camp office in Amaravati on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, she described the canteens as a lifeline for the poor, comparing the initiative to a mother who feeds the hungry. She praised the coalition government for reviving the programme, which ensures hygienic and dignified meals at an affordable cost of Rs 5.

Highlighting the scheme’s social impact, she noted that daily wage workers and economically weaker sections benefit immensely from the initiative. “The idea that no one should go hungry is at the heart of this programme,” she said, adding that contributing to such a cause on the Chief Minister’s birthday brought her immense satisfaction.

Recalling her personal experiences of participating in food distribution drives, Bhuvaneswari said there is no greater fulfilment than feeding the hungry. She also mentioned that for the past 12 years, the family has been donating Rs 44 lakh annually towards the Tirumala Annaprasadam programme on their grandson Devansh’s birthday.

Responding to the gesture, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu lauded Bhuvaneswari’s initiative and reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding the Anna Canteen network. “We are carrying forward annadanam as a sacred mission. Just as Tirumala has sustained this tradition for decades, we aim to strengthen and expand Anna Canteen services across the state,” he said.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the public to come forward with donations on special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. Encouraging collective participation, he expressed hope that Anna Canteens would evolve into a model welfare initiative driven by community support and shared responsibility.