Telangana rolls out smart ration cards, 1.06 crore families covered

Telangana has distributed Digital Smart Ration Cards to over 1.06 crore families, covering 3.42 crore beneficiaries who receive six kg of fine-quality rice per person monthly. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said on Saturday in Khammam that no other state runs such a large programme, and accused the previous BRS regime of denying fine rice and making ration cards hard to obtain.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, launching the smart cards in Sangareddy, challenged former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to a debate on the Congress government’s 32-month record versus the BRS’s decade in power. The Hindu reports Reddy claimed the BJP and BRS are “two sides of the same coin” and asserted that Congress has ensured no power cuts, free electricity for farmers, and Rs 12,000 annual aid under Rythu Bharosa.

Deccan Chronicle reports Reddy highlighted Rs 21,000 crore in farm loan waivers, Rs 90,000 crore paid directly to farmers for paddy, and 700,000 Indiramma houses sanctioned. He alleged occult rituals are being performed against his government in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, but said “God’s blessings are with us.” The Congress government has filled 72,000 vacancies and issued notifications for another 10,000 posts, Reddy added.