Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced that the State will introduce a dedicated system to curb food adulteration, drawing from enforcement models such as EAGLE and HYDRAA.
He said the government would study anti-adulteration laws across the country. Subsequently, it would implement strong measures through a specialised mechanism to control such practices.
Meanwhile, the Civil Supplies Department organised a meal for public representatives in the Assembly Central Hall to mark one year of the fine rice distribution scheme. The programme used the same rice supplied to beneficiaries under the scheme.
The scheme currently benefits around 3.39 crore people across the State. As a result, the government highlighted its focus on providing quality food to the poor.
Revanth Reddy highlights fine rice scheme and reforms
Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister said earlier distribution of coarse rice failed to achieve intended outcomes. He noted that many beneficiaries did not consume it, which led to the emergence of a network converting it into fine rice.
Consequently, the government incurred expenditure without delivering full benefits. Therefore, after review, the administration introduced fine rice distribution to ensure actual consumption.
To support the initiative, the government announced a ₹500 bonus per quintal to encourage farmers to grow fine paddy. In addition, authorities issued ration cards to all eligible beneficiaries.
He said the government aimed to ensure quality education and nutritious food for students. At the same time, it planned to promote awareness on crop diversification.
Further, the Chief Minister said farmers would be encouraged to shift towards commercial and alternative crops. The government intended to strengthen both food security and agricultural sustainability through these measures.