Phase II rice distribution begins in Telangana

The second phase of state distribution of free rice started on Friday. Chairman Civil Supplies Corporation Mareddy Srinivas Reddy along with Khairatabad legislator Danam Nagender formally launched the distribution here at a ration shop in Panjagutta. On the first day over 4 lakh beneficiaries received the free rice and red gram all over the state.

Addressing a press conference , Srinivas Reddy said that 2.52 crore white card holders received 3.18 lakh tons of rice in the month of April and in May the government will distribute 3.34 tons of rice to 87.55 lakh families. “The government has set aside Rs 1103 for this purpose,” he said. He added that 74.7 lakh card holders have received Rs 1500 cash benefit through



banks and 5.22 lakh through Post Offices. He said that the government has spent Rs 1109 crore for this programme. The process of distribution of cash benefit for the month of May will begin from Saturday.

Regarding distribution of Red Gram (Kandi Pappu) he said that so far 87.55 lakh families received red gram worth Rs 68 crore . “We were supposed to receive 8,755 tons of red gram from Nafed meant for distribution in the month of May, however we have so far received 3,233 tons. Hence distribution was limited to Nizamabad, Warangal Rural, Nalgonda and Medak districts. Red gram distribution in Hyderabad will begin in full scale from Saturday,” the Chairman said.