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Civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy confirmed that officials have been directed to prepare a detailed plan covering procurement requirements, quantities to be supplied to each beneficiary and the financial implications for the govt.
Officials said the govt is exploring the expansion of the PDS by supplying these essential groceries at subsidised prices in addition to the fine rice already being distributed to beneficiaries. The Congress govt is actively considering rolling out the scheme from Sankranti festival in Jan to provide relief to poor and middle income families amid rising prices of essential groceries and uncertainty over agricultural production. The proposed basket includes edible oil, pulses, sugar, chilli powder, salt, turmeric, wheat flour, and tamarind.
Sources said the govt is working on a broader food security strategy to ensure uninterrupted supplies to 3.42 crore PDS beneficiaries.
Officials said the proposal will be finalised after the govt examines the reports submitted by various departments. The proposal comes in the wake of intensive statewide enforcement raids by the civil supplies, police, GST and legal metrology departments to crack down on illegal stockpiling, black marketing and rising rice prices in Begum Bazaar and other major commercial centres in Greater Hyderabad. The initiative mirrors the popular ‘Amma Hastham‘ programme implemented by the previous Congress govt in undivided Andhra Pradesh, under which nine essential commodities were supplied through ration shops. The scheme was discontinued after the formation of Telangana .
It will then be placed before the state cabinet for approval.