Forum flags Telangana free rice distribution
HYDERABAD: The Forum for Good Governance has written to the Chief Minister of Telangana, alleging that eligibility norms for issuing food security cards are not being followed in the distribution of free rice.
The state government had issued guidelines stating that annual family income should be below ₹1.5 lakh in rural areas and ₹2 lakh in urban areas. It also capped landholding at 3.5 acres of irrigated land or 7.5 acres of dry land per family.
However, media reports indicate that these norms are being ignored, with about 85% of families in the state receiving 6 kg of free rice per person. Survey reports suggest that families below the poverty line (BPL) constitute less than 20% of the population.
The Government of India supplies free rice to 1.2 crore people in Telangana through 54.67 lakh cards, which is sufficient to cover all BPL families. Despite this, the previous government issued an additional 35.28 lakh cards, and the current government has sanctioned 15.12 lakh more. This has increased the total number of cards to 105 lakh.
Assuming an average of four members per family, free rice is being distributed to about 4.2 crore people, which exceeds the state’s population. The forum said it had written to the Civil Supplies Minister earlier but no action has been taken.
Ankapur village findings
The forum conducted a survey in Ankapur village in Armur mandal of Nizamabad district, identified as one of the most prosperous villages in the state.
Farmers grow three crops annually, including commercial crops such as turmeric. The village has 300 four-wheelers, 800 two-wheelers, 30 tractors and one harvester.
Most houses are double-storeyed, and the gram panchayat collects ₹24,73,884 as property tax. Of the 1,804 families, 1,654 have television connections. Around 326 residents work abroad in the United States, Europe, Gulf countries and Australia, sending regular remittances.
Despite this, 1,225 families in the village receive free rice. The forum said that if BPL norms are strictly applied, only about 300 families would qualify.
Ranga Reddy district data
Ranga Reddy district, one of the richest in the country, has a population of 24.46 lakh, with 42% in rural areas and 58% in urban areas. The district has 5.63 lakh households and a working population of 10.29 lakh.
Food security cards have been issued to 5,56,854 families. This means 98.7% of households in the district receive free rice, despite the state’s per capita income being ₹4.12 lakh, well above the eligibility ceiling of ₹2 lakh.
Statewide concerns
The forum said Telangana, despite being one of the richest states, is treating nearly 85% of its population as poor for free rice distribution.
The Government of India has repeatedly pointed out that ineligible beneficiaries must be removed. However, no such exercise has been undertaken since the formation of the state. Instead, new cards continue to be issued.
Reports indicate that the state is incurring significant expenditure on the Public Distribution System (PDS), which needs to be curtailed.
The forum urged the Chief Minister to order a comprehensive inquiry into white ration cards and prevent wastage of public funds.
