BRS did not issue even 40,000 ration cards, but targeting Congress Govt for aiming to benefit additional 40 lakh people: Uttam
Hyderabad: Civil Supplies & Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly criticised the BRS government for spreading falsehoods regarding ration cards in Telangana. He said the BRS, which failed to issue even 40,000 new ration cards during its 10-year rule, has no moral authority to question the Congress government, which aims to benefit additional 40 lakh people.
He stated that the Congress government, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, is committed to ensuring food security for all deserving and eligible citizens through a fair and transparent process.
The minister revealed that during the BRS regime, 12,07,558 applications for ration cards were left pending with Mee Seva, while 18,00,515 requests for adding new members to existing cards remained unaddressed. Additionally, another 10 lakh applications were received during the Congress-led Praja Palana program. The state government would consider the information/applications received under caste census, Praja Palana, Praja Vaani or the Mee-Seva centres for new ration cards. If any person is still left out, he/she can apply for a new ration card in the Gram Sabhas to be held from January 21 to 24.
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In total, additional 40 lakh individuals are set to benefit from the Congress government’s initiative, which begins on January 26. Uttam Kumar Reddy assured that no eligible and deserving person would be excluded, and no existing ration card would be canceled. The eligibility criteria are being determined through caste surveys, socio-economic data, and existing records, ensuring that only deserving individuals benefit.
The minister reiterated the Congress government’s promise to provide fine rice under the public distribution system. He confirmed that each person will receive 6 kg of high-quality rice at free of cost, with the initiative set to launch after the completion of process of ration cards. He said that the state government would be spending nearly Rs 11,000 crore per year on giving fine rice at free of cost to all eligible persons under the PDS after the new ration cards come into place.
Currently, Telangana has 89.96 lakh ration cards covering 281.7 lakh beneficiaries. Of these, 35.51 lakh cards were issued by the state government, while 54.45 lakh fall under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Rural families earning up to Rs 1.5 lakh annually and specific vulnerable groups qualify for Food Security Cards (FSC) under schemes like Antyodaya and Annapurna. With Telangana’s population projected to reach 3.94 crore in 2024, approximately 73.63% of residents are covered under these schemes.
Speaking at multiple events in the Huzurnagar constituency on Sunday, Uttam Kumar Reddy reviewed preparations for the Urs celebrations at Jan Pahad Dargah, inspected the Jan Pahad Lift Irrigation Scheme, and assessed the progress of housing colony works. He also visited Cheruvu Thanda to oversee ongoing development projects.
Additionally, he laid the foundation stones for several major infrastructure projects, including:
- A Rs 14 crore Government ITI building.
- A Rs 26 crore double road from Lingagiri to Kalmalcheruvu.
- A Rs 23 crore road connecting Amaravaram to Alingapuram.
- A Rs 10 crore double road from Mellacheruvu to Choutapalli.
Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised that the Congress government is determined to undo the damage caused by the BRS and ensure that all deserving and eligible citizens receive their due benefits. He said the Congress remains committed to restoring trust in governance and delivering on its promises to the people of Telangana.