Jaggery for TTD
The Anakapalle jaggery market is one of the largest in the country and is more than 130-years-old. It trades in 45,000 tonnes of stock annually with a turnover of Rs. 150 crores. And after several years they are sending their jaggery to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for use in the making of the `prasadams'. The first consignment of 40 tonnes of the jaggery was sent on July 17. Now this market is getting ready to send the second consignment. This was after the TTD officials had contacted the market for jaggery and the representatives of the Anakapalle Merchants' Association took three to four samples from the seven or eight varieties that are available in the market yard.
Apparently the pure, red variety has been preferred by the TTD for use in its ‘prasadams’ after lab tests. The TTD has been informed about the volatile market conditions due to which the association could not decide on any long term commitment on rate and in turn the TTD also indicated that its demand may vary, especially during Brahmotsavams it may need more quantity. So, the supply will be throughout the year and the charges will be as per market condition. The sweet smell of jaggery carries with it a win-win smile for all concerned.
Anna canteens for AP
And with food in mind, the state government is making all efforts to open Anna Canteens in all municipalities of Andhra Pradesh by September first week. The municipal commissioners were given the task of visiting the Amma Canteens in Chennai and Annapurna Canteens at Hyderabad. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu wants to open Anna Canteens in all towns and mandal headquarters on October 2. The final decision on the subsidy element and number of Anna Canteens per one lakh population will soon be decided.
This decision has been long pending though the announcement was made much earlier. The Telangana government budget canteens in Hyderabad are called Annapurna canteens. While there are 407 Amma Canteens in Chennai, the Hyderabad Annapurna Canteens feed around 70,000 people daily. In Chennai the local women self help groups cook and supply food at the canteens, and in Hyderabad Akshayapatra supplies food to the canteens from a centralised kitchen. And while the Akashyapatra Foundation is spending about Rs. 23 per plate, the GHMC is bearing Rs. 18 as subsidy and the Chennai Corporation is spending about Rs. 128 crore as subsidy but is requesting the state to share the burden. The Akshayapatra Foundation has shown interest in maintaining the Anna Canteens in Andhra Pradesh.
Fighting fire on two ends
Even as Naidu launches the e-Pragathi for better governance and tries to complete the irrigation projects, he has two fires to put down. One of them is the Kapu reservation campaigner Mudragada Padmanabham. This senior leader has decided to be the proverbial spoke in Naidu's side and is going about it in a pretty organised fashion. But the government is also not letting it be and each time he decides to take on a padayatra, the attempt is foiled and he is being kept under house arrest. And to remove the `anti-democratic' tag out it, the Kapu leader is being asked to take permission for the padayatra, between Kirlampudi and Amaravati.
The other fire will probably be doused on August 23 after the Nandyal by-election. Jaganmohan Reddy and the YSRC Party are doing everything to win this seat, including holding public meetings, and announcing that `Chandrababu Naidu should be shot dead for cheating people.'
