State boasts of 2.83 crore PDS rice beneficiaries: Data

HYDERABAD: The total number of beneficiaries of PDS rice supplied through ration shops at `one per kg in the state has increased to 2.83 crore, who hold 90.01 lakh ration cards. Of them, the Centre is supplying PDS rice to 54.37 lakh
cardholders while the state government is supplying rice to the remaining
35.64 lakh, according to data released by the civil supplies department.
Of the 2.83 crore beneficiaries, the Centre covers 1.91 crore and the state
government covers 92 lakh beneficiaries.

Prior to formation of Telangana state, the state government used to supply
PDS rice at `one per kg with a maximum limit of 20 kg for each household
(ration card holder). But the TRS government is supplying rice without any
upper limit. It is supplying six kg per head in each household. For instance, if there are ten family members in a household, they will get 60 kg of rice at Rs one per kg.

The state government is also supplying fine quality rice to students of government welfare hostels and government schools free of cost. Nearly 9.65
lakh students are being covered under this scheme, including 25.10 lakh in
28,636 government schools and 4,237 welfare hostels. This apart, the government is supplying fortified rice to 10.82 lakh children in 35,7000
anganwadi centres.

To meet the increasing demand for PDS rice, the state government has stepped
up paddy procurement from farmers in every kharif and rabi season by setting
up procurement centres at village-level and offering MSP (minimum support
price) since 2014.

From 2014-15 to 2021-22, the state government has purchased 6.6 crore tonnes
of paddy worth Rs 1,07,777 crore from farmers.

In 2021-22 kharif and rabi seasons, the state government purchased 1.25
crore tonnes of paddy. For the recently concluded kharif season in 2022-23,
the state government has decided to purchase one crore tonnes for which the
procurement process is underway across the state.

It has already procured 33.47 lakh tonnes of paddy by setting up 6,892
centres and hopes to reach the one crore tonnes target by December-end.