AMARAVATI: The state government has decided to distribute PDS rice through two different channels till November due to shortage of quality rice stock. While Sortex variety will be distributed through Mobile Dispensing Units (MDU), rice procured from Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be distributed under the Centre’s quota at ration depots.
The Prime Minister’s decision to grant free rice to all card holders till November due to Covid-19 has prompted the state government to split the disbursement through separate channels.
Speaking to the media, Kona Sasidhar, civil supplies commissioner, said that the state government had been distributing Sortex (fine quality) rice through Public Distribution System (PDS) since last February.
He said that they have procured Sortex rice according to the requirement and put the plans on track for distribution to about 1.48 crore rice cardholders. “The state government had spent close to Rs.3100 crore to manage distribution of rice, Bengal gram/red gram to meet all the requirements of PMGKAY-I and II, PDS from April, 2020 to November, 2020 when two separate quotas of ration was issued to the cardholders keeping in view of the covid-19 lockdown,” said Sasidhar. Subsequently, the Centre asked the state to distribute five kg for cardholders under National Food Security Act (NFSA) in May and June, 2021.
Although, around 89 lakh cardholders were eligible to get rice under NFSA, the state government issued additional quota to all the 1.48 crore cardholders by taking additional financial burden of Rs.789 crore.
