AP to start PMGKY rice distribution from August 1; no cancellation of ration cards

VIJAYAWADA: Civil Supplies Minister Nageswara Rao said on Monday that the central government sanctioned rice for 89 lakh rice cards in AP and the state government will distribute the same to card holders. Ration shops will continue to function, he said, and rejected the allegations of closure of fair price shops.

Addressing the media here, the minister said that only 2.68 crore people with National Food Security Cards (NFSCs) were given ration rice in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY). The state government is providing ration rice to the rest of the 1.55 crore BPL people by bearing the cost.

Chief minister Jagan took this decision as per the recommendation of the ministerial sub-committee, he said. “The state government has decided to resume the distribution of the rice to the people.”

The minister explained that, of the 1.67 crore people in the seven districts identified as backward areas, 89.2 lakh people belonged to the SC, ST and lower social classes.

Some 24.60 lakh people who have Antyodaya cards in the state are newly eligible for ration rice in Prakasam district from August 1. “The rice will be distributed to all from 3.30pm till evening. This is free rice. Coupons are given to all by the volunteers.”

Nageswara said there was no cancellation of ration cards. “The Opposition and some newspapers are making a false propaganda that rice cards will be reduced and ration shops will be closed. There is no truth in these. Not a single card is deleted and not a single ration shop will be closed.”

He said that while the previous TD government had spent  Rs 12,000 crore on Civil supplies during its five years, the YSRC government has spent
Rs 16,000 crores on civil supplies in the three years of its rule. “We have issued 7,051 new ration cards within these three years to the needy people.”