The Andhra Pradesh government has established a charitable trust for its Anna Canteen program, offering tax exemption benefits to donors. The trust, which received approvals from Income Tax and Corporate Affairs departments, will launch next month. Companies can now contribute through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Currently, 204 Anna Canteens operate across Andhra Pradesh, serving more than 150,000 meals daily. The government heavily subsidizes these meals, spending over ₹1 crore daily. While the actual cost per meal is ₹90, customers pay only ₹15, with the government covering the remaining ₹75.
The initiative includes a new online donation platform where contributors can receive immediate digital receipts. Donor names will be prominently displayed at canteen locations. Those interested in sponsoring meals can choose various packages: breakfast sponsorship at ₹5.95 lakhs, lunch or dinner sponsorship at ₹10.15 lakhs each, or full-day sponsorship at ₹26.25 lakhs.
The program has shown significant success, with over 6 million meal tokens issued so far. This includes 2.2 million breakfast, 2.3 million lunch, and 1.4 million dinner servings. Anantapur leads in usage with 639,542 tokens, followed by Guntur with 630,018 tokens. Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Nellore have also shown strong participation with over 400,000 tokens each.
In a recent expansion, the government has launched 75 additional Anna Canteens, further extending the program’s reach across the state. This charitable trust initiative, spearheaded by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, aims to ensure sustainable funding while offering tax benefits to donors who support this vital public feeding program.
The online donation system simplifies the contribution process, making it easier for individuals and organizations to support this initiative while availing tax benefits. The transparent display of donor information at canteens adds accountability and recognition to the program’s operations.
This development marks a significant step in the evolution of the Anna Canteen program, combining public service with private participation through a structured charitable framework.
-Sanyogita
