It is said by the civil supplies minister Nageswara Rao that the central government granted rice for 89 lakh rice cards in Andhra Pradesh and the state government will distribute the same to card holders. He further said ration shops will progress their functioning and refused the allegations of closure of fair price shops.
He said that only 2.68 crore people with National Flood Security Cards were given ration rice in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY). The AP directorate is providing ration rice to the remaining 1.55 crore BPL people by bearing the cost.
The chief minister said that, of the 1,67 crore people in the 7 districts identified as backward areas, 89.2 lakh people belonged to the SC,ST and lower social classes. Some 24.60 lakh people who are having Antyodaya cards in the state are newly eligible for ration rice in Prakasam district from August 1. The rice will be distributed from 3.30 pm and free rice coupons will be given by the volunteers.
The civil supplies minister said there was no cancellation of ration cards. The opposition and some newspapers are making a false statement that rice cards will be reduced and ration shops will be closed. There is no truth in these. Not a single card is deleted and not a single ration shop will be closed.