Now Reading: Telangana food net covers 3.42 crore, or 85% of state
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Telangana food net covers 3.42 crore, or 85% of state
Telangana's food security network now covers 3.42 crore people, nearly 85% of the state population, through 1.06 crore ration cards, civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Thursday. Launching smart ration card distribution in Suryapet, he said the government had added 16.5 lakh new cards, bringing 62 lakh additional beneficiaries into the system.
Reddy said the government is supplying six kg of fine rice free per person every month, replacing coarse rice under the public distribution system. To link food security with farmers, the government is promoting fine paddy cultivation by offering a Rs 500 per quintal bonus. The procured grain is processed into fine rice and supplied to ration card holders, as well as to government schools, hostels and Anganwadi centres.
Ration card issuance will be a continuous process, and eligible families left out can apply for inclusion after verification, the minister added.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Telangana's food security expansion is part of a larger political push as the state gears up for local body elections. The Congress government, which came to power in December 2023, had promised universal ration coverage during its campaign. By switching from coarse to fine rice, the state is bearing an additional Rs 2,000-crore annual subsidy. The challenge will be ensuring procurement matches demand: Telangana produced about 85 lakh tonnes of paddy last year, and the fine rice requirement for the PDS could absorb roughly a third of that. Watch for the next census or socio-economic survey to test the 85% coverage claim against actual eligibility.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
