HYDERABAD: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday said Telangana’s free fine rice distribution scheme had received an overwhelming response from the public and described it as the largest food security initiative in India’s history.
Speaking during a video conference conducted by Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari with all District Collectors from the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Secretariat, the Minister said the scheme was a proud achievement and a major milestone in Telangana’s welfare journey.
“This scheme is bringing real change to people’s lives. We must make it a historic and inclusive effort,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that nearly 85% of the state’s poor population would benefit from the programme. He cautioned officials that there should be no delay or irregularities in the rice supply. “Strict action will be taken if any malpractice is reported. Everything must be executed perfectly,” he warned.
He directed officials to ensure seamless monitoring, efficient transportation, and full participation of public representatives in the process. MLAs, MLCs, and MPs, he said, should not only take part in the distribution but also share meals with beneficiaries to build trust and connection.
He announced that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy would have lunch with a beneficiary in Bhadrachalam on April 6, coinciding with Sri Rama Navami. The Minister himself planned to have dinner with a beneficiary in Suryapet on Friday night.
Recalling past issues, he said the previous distribution of coarse rice had failed to serve its purpose, despite an annual expenditure of ₹10,665 crore. Much of the rice was unused and diverted to the black market, resulting in losses of ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 crore each year.
“After thorough analysis and consultations with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, we decided to replace coarse rice with fine rice. This is a game-changing decision that ensures actual benefit to the poor and prevents misuse,” he said.
He highlighted that the scheme was launched on March 30, on Ugadi, from the Chief Minister’s Huzurnagar constituency. Each eligible person is entitled to 6 kg of fine rice per month. The government will distribute 30 lakh metric tonnes of rice annually at a cost of ₹13,000 crore. The initiative is expected to benefit 3.10 crore people—approximately 85% of Telangana’s population—and was described by the Minister as a model of social justice.
“No welfare programme in independent India has ever reached such a large portion of the population. In my entire political career, I have not seen an initiative of this magnitude,” he remarked.
District Collectors informed the meeting that the distribution was proceeding smoothly in most regions, with several districts achieving over 99% coverage. Public feedback, they said, had been overwhelmingly positive.
Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari instructed collectors to counter misinformation and promote accurate information about the scheme. She asked them to highlight the success of the programme and its widespread impact.
The Minister also announced that the physical distribution of ration cards would begin soon. Tricolour Cards would be issued to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, while Green Cards would go to Above Poverty Line (APL) families. He directed collectors to carry out thorough verification to ensure that no eligible household was excluded.
He noted that Telangana had 89.73 lakh ration cards at the time of its formation, but only 49,479 new cards had been issued during the previous BRS government’s decade-long tenure. Additionally, no effort had been made to add new members to existing cards. Under the Congress government, both fresh card issuance and member additions are now being conducted on a large scale.
Currently, the state has around 90 lakh ration cards covering 2.85 crore people. An additional 30 lakh cards are expected to be issued following verification, bringing the total to 1 crore cards and 3.10 crore beneficiaries. “We are moving towards saturation. No eligible family will be left out,” the Minister said.
He mentioned that a detailed letter containing comprehensive guidelines had been circulated to all concerned officials.
Later in the day, the Minister held another video conference with MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and Corporation Chairmen from his chambers at the Secretariat. Ministers Komatireddy Venkatreddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, and D. Sridhar Babu also participated.
Uttam Kumar Reddy urged public representatives to visit fair price shops and actively participate in the rice distribution campaign. He encouraged them to eat Public Distribution System (PDS) meals with citizens to demonstrate their commitment.
“This is not just a scheme—it’s a mission to restore the dignity of the poor. Let’s implement it honestly, transparently, and with full commitment,” he said.
