CM, Dy CM to grace the launch event in Huzurnagar constituency represented by Civil Supplies Minister Uttam 

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a major initiative for food security, the Telangana government is set to launch the distribution of fine-variety rice (Sanna Biyyam) under the Public Distribution System (PDS) from March 30 (Sunday), coinciding with Ugadi. The scheme will be officially inaugurated in Huzurnagar, Suryapet district, by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, in the presence of Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, who represents the constituency.

Calling it a “revolutionary reform”, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasized its significance in transforming food distribution in Telangana. “For the first time in India, every Below Poverty Line (BPL) family will receive fine-quality rice instead of coarse grains (Doddu Biyyam). This is a step towards providing nutritious and edible rice to our people,” he stated.

Currently, 2.81 crore ration card beneficiaries receive free rice under PDS. With the launch of the new scheme, this number is expected to increase to 3.10 crores as the government issues new ration cards. To streamline the system, the government is introducing tri-color ration cards for BPL families and green-colored ration cards for Above Poverty Line (APL) families to ensure a smooth transition.

One of the primary reasons for this shift is the inefficiency of the current rice distribution system, where 70-80% of Doddu Rakam (coarse grain) rice is not consumed by beneficiaries and is instead diverted to poultry farms, breweries, and other industries. “The government is spending Rs 10,665 crore annually on coarse rice, but the actual beneficiaries are not getting the intended benefit. This is an unacceptable loss to the state,” Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed. The fine rice scheme aims to ensure that subsidized rice reaches those who truly need it.