Free Fine Rice Scheme A Grand Success: Uttam 

·Minister Uttam denies shortage of fine rice, condemns BRS propaganda 

·Telangana achieved record production of paddy in 2024–25

Hyderabad, April 10: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday said the Congress government deserved full credit for the historic and transformational rollout of the Free Fine Rice Scheme, calling it a landmark moment in India’s welfare history.

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He said nearly 3.10 crore people, around 84 percent of Telangana’s population, would benefit from the scheme. Dismissing the BJP and BRS parties‘ criticism, he clarified that the Centre was providing only 5 kg of coarse rice in limited quantities, while it was the Congress-led Telangana government that was giving 6 kg of fine rice per beneficiary by spending over ₹13,000 crore a year.

Addressing a video conference from Jala Soudha with MPs, MLCs, MLAs and Corporation Chairmen, the Minister said the scheme was launched on March 30 on the occasion of Ugadi by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy from Huzurnagar constituency. The programme is being implemented across the state by the Civil Supplies Department and is undoubtedly a Congress government initiative. He said it was misleading to give credit to the Centre, as it was giving money only for coarse rice. But the fine rice, which is of higher quality and preferred by families, is being procured and distributed by the State government.

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The Minister said this was a matter of great pride and a true example of social justice. No welfare scheme in independent India has reached such a large section of the population. He added that the decision to distribute fine rice was taken after several studies revealed that the coarse variety given earlier was either left unused or sold in the black market. He said this programme was historic in scale and spirit, and described it as a transformational shift in welfare delivery.

Uttam Kumar Reddy informed that the government would distribute 30 lakh metric tonnes of fine rice every year and the cost of this initiative would be around ₹13,523 crore annually. At present, the Centre and State together spend ₹10,665 crore on public distribution. With the expansion of beneficiaries, this cost would increase by nearly ₹2,858 crore, taking Telangana’s share to ₹8,033 crore. He said the government was fully prepared to bear this burden to ensure food security for all. As many as 3.10 crore people are set to benefit from the scheme. To manage this scale, the government has already started physical verification of new ration card applications. District collectors have been directed to ensure that no eligible family is left out. A Tricolour Card will be issued to families below the poverty line, while those above the poverty line will receive a Green Card.

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The Minister pointed out that Telangana had 89.73 lakh white ration cards at the time of state formation. In the ten years of BRS rule, only 49,479 net new cards were issued. There was no serious effort to add new members to existing cards. Under the Congress government, close to 30 lakh new applications have already been received and are under process. Once verified, these new cards will raise the number of beneficiaries to 3.10 crore.

Responding to opposition claims of shortage, Uttam Kumar Reddy said there would be no shortage of fine rice in the state, even with increased consumption and cardholders. He urged Congress leaders to take this message to every household, dine at the homes of poor beneficiaries, and counter the misinformation campaign being run by BRS leaders. He said every eligible person would be given a ration card and that officials must personally visit poor households to ensure no one is excluded.

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Uttam Kumar Reddy also announced that Telangana had achieved a record paddy production in 2024–25. During the Vanakalam (Kharif) season, paddy was cultivated on 66.78 lakh acres, yielding 153.5 lakh metric tonnes. In the Yasangi (Rabi) season, cultivation was done on 56.49 lakh acres, and production reached 127.5 lakh metric tonnes. This brought the total sown area to 123.27 lakh acres and total production to 281 lakh metric tonnes—the highest ever in the history of Telangana or even undivided Andhra Pradesh. He said this achievement was even more notable considering the Kaleshwaram project is currently not operational.

The Minister said that the government had paid bonuses to encourage farmers to grow fine rice. During the Kharif season, the government procured 24 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from 4.41 lakh farmers and paid them a bonus of ₹500 per quintal, amounting to ₹1,199 crore. Last year, the government spent over ₹11,000 crore on paddy procurement. For the Vanakalam season alone, it paid ₹12,511 crore under Minimum Support Price and an additional ₹1,300 crore in bonuses.

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He also informed that 8,209 procurement centres had been sanctioned across the state, and as of now, 2,573 centres are operational. He said collectors had been given full powers to open as many centres as required. Funds will be made available from the Civil Supplies Department, and strict rules are being followed regarding moisture content and quality. Paddy with more than 17 percent moisture will not be accepted, in line with national norms. Millers supplying rice with more than 25 percent broken content will face strict action, including blacklisting.

Calling it a model welfare scheme that ensures food, dignity and farmer support, Uttam Kumar Reddy urged all ministers, MPs, MLAs and Corporation Chairmen to actively promote the scheme, monitor its implementation in their districts, and encourage media and social media engagement. He reminded them that the harvesting of the Rabi crop has been completed in several districts and procurement is in full swing. He appealed to elected representatives to ensure that the scheme reaches every village and every poor household. With municipal elections due in Hyderabad next month, he asked leaders to focus on awareness during April and ensure that distribution centres run efficiently.

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He stated that the Free Fine Rice Scheme is a matter of collective pride for Telangana. It represents a new era of public governance where welfare is delivered with dignity and effectiveness. “As someone who has been a six-time MLA and a Member of Parliament, I have never seen such a large-scale, impactful programme in the past. This is a proud moment for all of us,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. (Maxim News)

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