Fri Apr 11 08:06:01 UTC 2025: ## Telangana’s Ambitious Fine Rice Scheme: A Historic Welfare Initiative
**Hyderabad, April 11, 2025** – Telangana’s Civil Supplies Minister, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, has defended the state government’s ambitious fine rice distribution scheme, dismissing BJP claims of central government contribution. The scheme, a first of its kind in India, provides 6 kg of fine rice per beneficiary to 89.9 lakh families, costing the state over ₹13,000 crore annually.
Reddy clarified that while the Centre provides a limited quantity of coarse rice to a smaller number of beneficiaries, the Telangana government’s initiative uses entirely state-procured fine rice, chosen following studies that showed coarse rice was often unused or sold illegally. He highlighted the scheme’s scale – reaching 3.1 crore people – and described it as a “transformational shift in welfare delivery.”
The government plans to distribute 30 lakh metric tonnes of fine rice annually, at an estimated cost of ₹13,523 crore. This represents a significant increase from the current combined Centre and State expenditure on PDS rice (₹10,665 crore), with the state’s share rising to ₹8,033 crore. Reddy assured that the government is prepared to shoulder this cost to guarantee food security.
To manage the increased demand, the government is verifying new ration card applications. Beneficiaries will receive either a Tricolour Card (below poverty line) or a Green Card (above poverty line). Reddy also addressed concerns about rice shortages, citing record paddy production in 2024-25, with a combined Kharif and Rabi yield exceeding 281 lakh metric tonnes. He emphasized that the state is well-equipped to meet the increased demand.
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