Ration Cards only for supplying rice: Etela Rajender

Hyderabad:  Finance and Civil Supplies Minister Etela Rajender has made it specifically clear that the ration cards under Food Security Act were meant only for the supply of rice and not for any other purpose.  

He said the White Ration Card, which was being used by the poor families for availing medical benefits under Aarogysri, Scholarship to Students and for any other government scheme or availing additional food items such as Wheat Atta, cooking oil, sugar, kerosene etc. cannot be taken now.  He alleged that earlier people used to take White Ration Cards for availing different services which is not correct. 

Replying to various questions raised by MLAs across the party line during the Question Hour in Legislative Assembly today, the Finance Minister said during the Congress regime people used to misuse the ration cards. While some used to take it for medical benefits and some for the scholarship and fee reimbursement, the lifting of rice by the card holders was less. 

He said in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal districts 4,06,397 white cards has been deleted which includes Hyderabad (223,306), Ranga Reddy (119,763) and Medchal (63,397) as it was found that their income was more and they were utilising the cards for different purpose.  

The Minister said that under the Central Food Security Act, the Central Government is providing rice at Rs. 3 per kg to the State to 1.91 crores population at 5 kg per head. But the State Government is supplying rice at Rs. one per kg by contributing Rs. 2 kg and it has added more 92.64 lakh population.  

Earlier during Congress regime there used to be cap on rice supply to 20 kgs irrespective of number of members, this cap has been removed, the State is giving 6 kg per head without any cap. 

He said, since the formation of Telangana State no new Ration Cards has been issued. He promised that new ration cards will be issued by end of April this year. 

He admitted that in the last 2 years, as many 2.56 lakh applications were received for issue of fresh ration cards (Food Security Cards) out of which 89,723 applications were verified so far and 77,100 eligible applications were issued fresh cards. He said still 1,66,981 applications are under enquiry since last two years and they will be issued after completion of enquiries. 

He said that since the State has formed, several steps has been taken in bringing the reforms in the Civil Supplies department, because of this there is check in the movement of lorries and the millers, e-poss system which has been introduced at the Fair Price shops, with this, irregularities is stopped and the genuine beneficiaries are getting rice from Ration Shops, he said.