HYDERABAD: Promising free quality food for the poor and justice for farmers, the Congress Government in Telangana has declared its flagship fine rice scheme a historic leap in welfare policy – one that no future government would dare to undo. In a state-wide virtual strategy meeting on Friday, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and TPCC President M Mahesh Kumar Goud rallied party leaders to take the message of the scheme to every home in Telangana.
Describing the initiative as a “game changer” in food security, the leaders said Telangana was setting a national benchmark by distributing fine rice through ration shops to 3.10 crore people. They said the scheme had received an overwhelming response, turning routine welfare into a matter of dignity.
“The BJP and BRS gave substandard rice to 2.8 crore people and spent ₹10,000 crore. We are spending over ₹13,000 crore to give the poor high-quality rice. That’s the difference,” said Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy. “The public has embraced this scheme, and neither BJP nor BRS will have the courage to roll it back.”
He noted that previous governments had been criticised for distributing rice of such poor quality that many families simply stopped consuming it. “Yes, this costs more, but we are proud to spend more to ensure dignity in every meal,” he said.
The distribution has been rolled out across the State, except for the Hyderabad district, where it was delayed due to the Model Code of Conduct for MLC elections. The Minister announced that the scheme will officially launch in Hyderabad on May 1. He also confirmed that new ration cards are being issued—tri-colour cards for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, and green cards for Above Poverty Line (APL) families—to streamline benefit delivery.
Record Rabi Harvest and Procurement Drive
Alongside the nutrition push, the Congress Government is also celebrating a record Rabi paddy harvest across 66.7 lakh acres—a scale unmatched even during BRS’s decade-long tenure. “This kind of crop has never been seen in the State’s history. It proves that the Congress truly stands by farmers,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
The Minister assured that every grain would be procured at the Minimum Support Price, with an additional ₹500 per quintal bonus for fine paddy. “We are fully committed to honouring the farmer’s hard work,” he added.
Party Cadre Mobilised Statewide
The Zoom meeting was attended by TPCC Working Presidents, Vice Presidents, General Secretaries, Spokespersons, and District, Town, and Mandal Congress leaders. Feedback from the ground indicated strong public support for both the rice distribution and the procurement process.
TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud emphasised the symbolic power of the scheme, noting that it was launched during Ugadi and Ramzan. “It brought real festivity to the homes of the poor. Everyday survival became a celebration,” he said.
He added that the bonus for fine paddy had led to a surge in cultivation – from 25 lakh to 40 lakh acres. “In the 2024–25 Kharif season alone, we procured 24 lakh tonnes of fine paddy from 4.41 lakh farmers. That’s a record.”
Calling the scheme a visionary decision, he said it must be made a centrepiece of the Congress’s public messaging. “This government has delivered fine rice, initiated a caste census, offered 42% BC reservation, and started SC sub-categorisation. These are not routine schemes—they are about reshaping Telangana’s future.”
He urged Congress cadres to integrate these initiatives into the ongoing ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’ campaign and remind voters who made this change possible. “With 84% of Telangana’s poor population receiving this benefit, it is our duty to ensure they remember who gave them dignity at the dinner table,” he said.
కేంద్రం ఇచ్చేది దొడ్డు బియ్యమే
సన్నబియ్యం కాదు
ఈ స్కీమ్ పూర్తిగా కాంగ్రెస్ సర్కారుదే. pic.twitter.com/kOI1FkTAvr— Telangana Congress (@INCTelangana) April 11, 2025
