Hyderabad witnessed the inauguration of newly modernised Indiramma Canteens on Monday, with Transport Minister and Hyderabad District In-charge Ponnam Prabhakar and Mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi leading the launch. The initiative, guided by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s vision, is aimed at providing nutritious and hygienic food to underprivileged citizens at a nominal cost of ₹5 per meal. According to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), each breakfast and lunch plate is subsidised by the government, with GHMC bearing a cost of ₹14 per breakfast and nearly ₹25 per meal, thereby enabling beneficiaries to save around ₹3,000 every month.

The canteens, operated in partnership with the Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation, are designed to support the city’s daily wage earners, students, migrant workers, drivers, and other low-income groups. A GHMC statement described the project as not just a welfare measure but also an effort to ensure dignity, nourishment, and relief for thousands who struggle to afford two square meals a day. Renamed from the earlier Annapurna Meal Centres, the Indiramma Canteens currently number 150 across the city, serving more than 30,000 citizens every day. Since inception, the programme has distributed over 12.3 crore meals, with the government allocating nearly ₹254 crore to sustain the initiative.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue offering quality food at subsidised rates despite the financial strain on the exchequer. He emphasised that the programme reflects Telangana’s social welfare priorities and its commitment to addressing hunger and poverty in urban areas. GHMC officials confirmed that the Indiramma Canteens will continue to expand their reach, strengthening food security in the city and ensuring that no individual is denied a nutritious meal due to economic hardship.