The Telangana government will distribute one lakh new ration cards starting March 1 in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Mahbubnagar, with expansion to other districts after March 8.
HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Government is set to distribute one lakh new ration cards to eligible families starting March 1. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced the initiative through the social media platform X, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting the state’s poor.
The distribution will initially cover the Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Mahbubnagar districts. After March 8, the programme will extend to other regions across the state. Minister Prabhakar emphasized that this initiative marks the first large-scale ration card issuance in over a decade, fulfilling a long-pending demand of underprivileged citizens.
The Telangana Congress Government had earlier launched the ration card distribution drive on January 26, issuing 16,900 cards in select villages as a pilot phase. However, this limited rollout led to dissatisfaction among residents in other regions. The process was then temporarily suspended due to the Model Code of Conduct for the MLC elections. With restrictions now lifted in non-election areas, the government has decided to resume and expand the distribution.
In total, the state plans to issue 5.12 lakh new ration cards. Citizens who have not yet applied can still do so, as applications remain open indefinitely. Interested applicants can submit their requests through MeeSeva centres by paying a Rs 50 fee. A reference number will be provided to track the status of applications.
The ration card distribution is expected to provide essential benefits to thousands of low-income families across Telangana, ensuring food security and access to government welfare schemes.
