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In its first phase, five Annapurna canteens will be opened in each of the six largest cities – Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Agra and Prayagraj
The standard menu at Annapurna canteens will include pulses, rice, vegetables, roti and salad, all to be prepared in a hygienic environment (Representative Photo)
The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a major expansion of its Annapurna Rasoi Yojana, aimed at ensuring affordable and nutritious meals for the urban poor. The initiative, to be implemented under the Urban Development Department, will be rolled out across 17 municipal corporation areas of the state. Officials said that the move is designed to offer significant relief to low-income groups struggling with rising living costs.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries will be able to avail a full thali (meal) for just Rs 22.50. The state has set an ambitious target of serving meals to nearly 2.3 crore people in urban areas over the course of this year.
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In its first phase, five canteens will be opened in each of the six largest cities – Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Agra and Prayagraj. The network will further extend to Aligarh, Bareilly, Firozabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Meerut, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Shahjahanpur, Mathura and Ayodhya. Each kitchen has been planned with the capacity to serve at least 1,000 meals a day.
Officials of the Urban Development Department described the initiative as another measure towards poor welfare under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The standard menu at Annapurna canteens will include pulses, rice, vegetables, roti and salad, all to be prepared in a hygienic environment. The cost will be shared equally between the department and the respective municipal corporations. Authorities also underlined that the scheme is expected to generate local employment, particularly for women and self-help groups engaged in food preparation and management.
A senior official said that the expansion takes into account the challenges of rapid urbanisation. He pointed out that similar programmes had already benefitted lakhs of families in past years, and the new drive to cover 17 cities would strengthen urban food security. The canteens are being strategically located near railway stations, bus stands and crowded markets, making them accessible for migrant workers and daily wage earners.
The government has directed that the canteens must be made operational at the earliest and has emphasised that quality should not be compromised at any stage.
September 16, 2025, 14:55 IST
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