17-12-2024 12:57:06 AM
Metro India News | hyderabad :
Irrigation, Food & Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the Telangana government’s plan to issue 10 lakh new white ration cards post-Sankranti, benefiting 31 lakh people. Using data from the recent caste census survey, the scheme aims to address a decade-long backlog of 18 lakh applications.
Replying to a query during the Question Hour in the Telangana Legislative Council on Monday, the minister explained that the state government will use data from the recently conducted caste census survey to finalise eligibility for the new ration cards. The initiative is projected to add a financial burden of Rs 956 crore annually to the state exchequer. He mentioned that over 18 lakh applications to add names to existing ration cards have been pending at MeeSeva centres for over a decade. The issuance of new cards aims to address this backlog while replacing old ration cards with smart cards to enhance efficiency.
The initiative, under CM A. Revanth Reddy’s leadership, includes replacing old cards with smart cards and distributing finer rice to enhance food security. It is set to tackle gaps in fair-price shops by filling vacancies and establishing outlets in new panchayats.