In a significant move to streamline public welfare services, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced that six key services related to new rice card issuance will now be accessible via WhatsApp Governance from May 15. Citizens can simply message "Hello" to 95523 00009 to initiate the process from their homes, according to Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Civil Supplies Camp Office in Tenali, Guntur district, the Minister stated that since the rollout of the services on May 8, as many as 72,519 beneficiaries have already utilized the system. These services include new rice card applications, card splitting, address changes, addition or removal of family members, and card surrender requests.

To ensure accessibility, citizens can also avail these services by visiting their local village and ward secretariats. However, starting May 15, all services will be available through WhatsApp as well—marking a first in leveraging digital governance for ration-related services in the state.

Minister Manohar announced that beginning June, the government will issue free smart rice cards to eligible households. These new cards will consolidate details of all family members into a single, digitized format. Even individuals living alone—such as unmarried persons above 50, separated spouses, orphans, and residents of old-age homes—will now be eligible to apply for their own rice cards. In a historic inclusion, transgender individuals will also be eligible to apply for rice cards for the first time under this system.

Minister Manohar clarified that the issuance of new rice cards was delayed due to the Election Commission of India’s directive in March 2023 to pause new distributions ahead of the 2024 elections. Additionally, the Supreme Court-mandated eKYC verification process further delayed implementation. With 95% of the eKYC process now complete, the department has resumed rice card distribution. Notably, children under five years of age and elderly persons above 80 have been exempted from mandatory eKYC, benefiting around 6.45 lakh citizens.

Currently, the state has 1.46 crore rice card holders, covering nearly 4.25 crore beneficiaries. The Minister said that as part of the reforms, special AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) cards will be issued to vulnerable communities such as tribal groups like Chenchus and Yanadis, and aged artists receiving pensions in rural areas. These cards will entitle holders to receive 35 kilograms of rice per month.

Minister Manohar emphasized that the ongoing reforms are part of the government’s broader effort to make welfare delivery more inclusive, transparent, and tech-enabled, ensuring no eligible citizen is left behind. “We are committed to providing every deserving citizen with access to essential services from the comfort of their homes,” the Minister said.