Telangana Initiates Complimentary Distribution of Fine Rice via PDS

Hyderabad, March 30 (NationPress) The Telangana government has commenced the complimentary distribution of fine rice through the Public Distribution System. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the initiative in Huzurnagar constituency in celebration of the Telugu New Year, Ugadi, on Sunday.

Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy asserted that Telangana is the first state in India to implement such a program, aimed at ensuring food security for 84 percent of the state's population.

Each member of a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family with a white ration card will receive six kilograms of fine rice, replacing the coarse rice previously provided.

Currently, there are 89.73 lakh white ration cards covering 2.8 crore individuals. With an additional 30 lakh new applications, the number of beneficiaries is expected to reach 3.10 crore.

The Chief Minister stated that 3.10 crore individuals will receive free fine rice through ration shops, with the government budgeting Rs 10,600 crore annually for this initiative.

The decision to distribute fine rice was made as coarse rice was being diverted to middlemen.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the Congress party has continually aimed to secure food for the impoverished. He recalled that ration shops were first introduced in 1957 by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Right to Food Act was championed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to combat hunger.

Revanth Reddy also noted that back in 1982-83, then Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, proposed rice distribution at Rs 1.90 per kg, but the scheme was altered by N. T. Rama Rao to Rs 2 per kg.

At present, coarse rice is supplied to white ration card holders, who often sell it to rice millers for Rs 10 per kg, allowing millers to recycle it and sell it for Rs 50 per kg, resulting in substantial profits.

Revanth Reddy explained that with the improvement of the state’s economy, the government has opted to provide fine rice. He criticized the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government for failing to implement the scheme for a decade and for discouraging farmers from cultivating paddy. The Congress government, however, is offering a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal for fine rice.

He emphasized that Telangana leads the nation in paddy production, with last year’s yield at 1.56 lakh tonnes.

The Chief Minister also inspected the significant Indiramma Housing Project in Huzurnagar. The event featured a ceremonial guard of honor from the police and a cultural program.

He personally reviewed the 2160 Indiramma Houses, a flagship initiative aimed at providing dignified housing for the underprivileged.

The Telangana Housing Managing Director, V.P. Gautam, briefed Revanth Reddy on the project’s potential, noting that 135 housing blocks have been developed with modern amenities, including parks, community halls, and markets, creating a self-sustaining residential environment.

“This is the first time in Telangana’s history that such a large-scale Indiramma housing project is being constructed in a single location, ensuring a better quality of life for beneficiaries. These homes, located near urban centers, will alleviate hardships for the poor and represent a beacon of hope for the homeless,” the Chief Minister stated.