HYDERABAD: Telangana will launch a major welfare initiative to provide free sanna biyyam (fine rice) to 3.1 crore beneficiaries across the state starting April 1, 2024. The scheme, described as historic and revolutionary by the state government, will be formally launched by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at a public meeting in Huzurnagar on March 30.
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the scheme at a press conference on Friday, calling it the largest food security programme in India’s history. Every eligible ration card holder in Telangana will receive 6 kg of fine rice per person per month through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The scheme aims to cover about 85% of the state’s population.
The minister explained that the decision to replace coarse rice with fine rice was based on findings that poor quality grain was often not consumed, leading to misuse and black-market diversion of rice worth ₹7,000–8,000 crore annually. The transition is intended to ensure real nutritional and financial benefit to the poor.
At present, Telangana has around 90 lakh ration cards, covering 2.85 crore people. With pending applications under verification, the total number of cards is expected to rise to 1 crore, covering 3.1 crore people. The newly issued physical ration cards will include QR codes and be colour-coded: Tricolour for Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, and Green for Above Poverty Line (APL). Even beneficiaries without physical cards but listed in the database will be eligible.
Beneficiaries will be allowed to collect rice from any fair price shop in the state, enabling portability across locations. This is expected to especially help migrant workers.
The financial burden of the scheme is significant. Currently, the PDS system costs ₹10,665 crore (Centre: ₹5,489.5 crore, State: ₹5,175.5 crore). With the scheme’s expansion, the total cost is projected to rise to ₹13,523 crore, with the state bearing ₹8,033 crore — an additional ₹2,858 crore. The minister said the government is ready to bear this in the interest of the poor.
In future phases, other essentials such as dal and salt will be added. Ration dealers’ commissions have already been increased, and their operational scope is being expanded to strengthen the delivery network.
To ensure a consistent supply of quality fine rice, the government procured a record 24 lakh metric tonnes of sannarakam paddy from 4.41 lakh farmers during Kharif 2024–25, paying a ₹500 per quintal bonus in addition to MSP. A total bonus of ₹1,199 crore was disbursed. Special procurement centres were set up with trained staff and quality control using digital grain calipers.
Preparations for the March 30 launch event at Rajiv Gandhi Grounds in Huzurnagar are underway. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy inspected the venue along with senior officials and held meetings with local Congress leaders. Calling it a proud moment for Huzurnagar, he urged citizens across Telangana to participate and support what he called a model for justice and dignity for the poor.
