Distribution Of Free Fine Rice To Begin On Ugadi: Uttam Kumar Reddy

Hyderabad, March 28: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the Congress government will launch a historic and revolutionary scheme to distribute free ‘sanna biyyam’ (fine rice) to the poor across the Telangana state, starting from the Ugadi festival.

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Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will formally launch the scheme at a public meeting in Huzurnagar on March 30. From April 1, free 6 kg of fine rice for all ration card holders will be distributed across the state through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Speaking at a press conference along with Principal Secretary and Civil Supplies Commissioner DS Chauhan and other senior officials, the minister said this is the largest food security initiative in the country’s history, aiming to benefit nearly 3.10 crore people — which is about 85 percent of Telangana’s population. Each eligible individual will receive 6 kilograms of fine rice per month. The minister said no welfare scheme in independent India has ever reached such a large share of the population. In his entire political career, he said, he has not seen a programme of this scale, and called it a model for social justice.

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Uttam Kumar Reddy explained that the earlier distribution of coarse rice under PDS had failed as most beneficiaries did not consume the rice due to its poor quality. As a result, around 80 to 90 percent of the rice was diverted and illegally sold, creating a thriving black market racket. Rice worth Rs 7,000 to 8,000 crore was being misused annually. He said the decision to replace the coarse grain with fine rice was aimed at preventing pilferage, increasing consumption, and providing real benefit to the poor. He called this transition a game-changer in India’s food security landscape.

According to official data, Telangana had 89.73 lakh ration cards at the time of its formation. During the ten-year rule of the BRS government, only 49,479 new cards were issued, despite changes in population and eligibility. The process of adding new members to existing ration cards was completely neglected throughout that period. In contrast, after the Congress government came to power, it not only reopened the process for adding eligible members but also initiated the large-scale issuance of new ration cards to ensure no deserving household is left out.

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The minister also revealed that Telangana currently has around 90 lakh ration cards, covering about 2.85 crore people. However, with the verification and approval of pending applications, nearly 30 lakh new ration cards are expected to be issued soon. This will raise the total number of cards to 1 crore and increase the total number of beneficiaries to 3.10 crore. He said the government is committed to ensuring that no eligible person is left out, and that ration cards will be issued or updated up to the saturation level.

The newly issued ration cards will be physical cards embedded with QR codes, although they will not contain chips. The government is yet to take a final decision on whether the Prime Minister’s photo will be printed on the cards. Importantly, the cards will be colour-coded: Tricolour cards will be issued to families Below Poverty Line (BPL), while Green cards will be for Above Poverty Line (APL) households. Even those who don’t yet have physical cards but are listed in the official beneficiary database will be entitled to receive fine rice from April 1.

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To improve transparency and flexibility, the government will allow beneficiaries to collect their ration from any fair price shop in the state, regardless of where their ration card was originally issued. This portability is expected to particularly benefit migrant workers and mobile populations.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said the financial implication of the scheme is substantial. Currently, the central and state governments are jointly spending Rs 10,665 crore on the PDS system, with the Centre contributing Rs 5,489.5 crore and the state bearing Rs 5,175.5 crore. After the inclusion of new beneficiaries, the total cost is expected to increase to Rs 13,523 crore, with the state’s share rising to Rs 8,033 crore. The additional financial burden on the Telangana government will be around Rs 2,858 crore, but the minister said the government is fully prepared to bear this cost in the interest of the poor.

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He also said that in a phased manner, other essential items like dal and salt will be added to the distribution, enhancing the nutritional value of the public ration basket. At the same time, the government is strengthening the network of ration dealers. Their commissions have already been increased, and steps are being taken to expand the inventory they can sell, thereby improving their livelihood and supporting their role in the delivery chain.

To ensure the availability of quality rice, the government has taken extensive steps to promote the cultivation of sannarakam paddy (fine rice). During the Kharif 2024–25 season, the government procured 24 lakh metric tonnes of sannarakam paddy — the highest ever in Telangana’s history. This paddy was purchased from 4.41 lakh farmers, who were paid a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal in addition to the MSP. A total bonus amount of Rs 1,199 crore was paid to farmers. Separate procurement centres were established, with dedicated staff trained in identifying sannarakam paddy. All procurement bags were marked, and digital grain calipers were used to verify grain quality and size.

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The launch event on March 30 will be held at Rajiv Gandhi Grounds in Huzurnagar, where the Chief Minister will address a massive public meeting.

Earlier in the day, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy inspected the arrangements at the venue along with IG Sathyanarayana, District Collector Tejas Nandlal Pawar, SP Narasimha and other officials. He also held a meeting with local Congress leaders and party workers to finalise preparations. He said the meeting would go down as a historic occasion in Telangana’s welfare history and urged citizens from all parts of the state to attend and show their support.

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Calling it a moment of pride for Huzurnagar, the minister said that launching this transformative scheme from his constituency was a matter of great honour.

He urged every citizen to participate in the event and make the programme a grand success. “This is not just about rice — it’s about dignity, justice, and care for the poor. Telangana is showing the way,” he said. (Maxim News)

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