Telangana to check other states’ ration rules

HYDERABAD: The Cabinet sub-committee on the issuing of new ration cards, will study the norms that are prevalent in other states.

Addressing the committee during a meeting on Saturday, civil supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “It has been decided to seek opinions of both ruling and opposition party representatives while formulating the norms. Those seeking new cards from rural areas should have less than Rs 1.5 lakh income annually. Those owing land should not own wet and dry land more than 3.5 acres and seven acres, respectively. Those hailing from the urban areas should have an annual income that is below Rs 2 lakh.”

The committee asked the civil supplies secretary to write to all MPs, MLAs and MLCs to elicit their opinions and suggestions. Recommendations of the N.C. Saksena committee will be factored in while deciding the norms, he said. Those having ration cards in more than one state will be asked to choose one state.

There are around 89.96 lakh ration cards covering 281.70 lakh units. Of these, 35.51 lakh are state-issued, while the remaining 54.45 lakh are National Food Security Act (NFSA) cards.

The state government had received over 10 lakh applications for new cards to cover 31.60 lakh units at an expenditure of `956.04 crore per year. Requests for 11.33 lakh applications for adding new members to the existing cards, accounting for 16.36 lakh units, were received after the new government took over. The exercise is projected to cost `495.12 crore annually, the minister said.

Ministers Damodar Rajanarsimha and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, civil supplies MD D.S. Chauhan and health secretary Dr Christina Chongthu were among those present on the occasion.