The Telangana government on Wednesday said that free rice to below poverty line families was one of the options it explored in its new public distribution policy.
“Whether to give rice free or continue the Rs. 1 a kg rice scheme or hike it to Rs. 2 a kg is being considered by a Cabinet Sub-Committee”, Finance Minister Etala Rajender told a press conference on Wednesday.
He said the panel was also looking at increasing the ceiling on quantum of rice supplied on the white cards. “Whether to continue supply of rice at 4 kg a head and 20 kg a household or increase the limit to 5 kg a head and 25 to 30 kg a household respectively is also under the consideration of the government.” The hike was considered as four kg a head was insufficient. He promised that the new policy on PDS would be an improvement over the previous one. A decision would be announced shortly after the sub-committee submitted its report.
Mr. Rajender denied reports that the government aimed to weed out white cards. On the other hand, the government wanted to rectify the lapses that crept into the issue of the cards. As many as 12.5 lakh duplicate cards were voluntarily surrendered by holders, saving 17,000 tonnes of rice that would have otherwise gone to the black market.
