Hyderabad: Civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday said Telangana’s food security network now covers 3.42 crore people, or nearly 85% of state population, through 1.06 crore ration cards.Launching smart ration card distribution in Suryapet, Uttam said the govt had added 16.5 lakh new cards, extending coverage to nearly 62 lakh additional beneficiaries.He said ration card issuance would be a continuous process and eligible families left out could apply for inclusion after verification.Uttam said the govt was also supplying six kg of fine rice free per person every month, replacing coarse rice under public distribution system.Linking food security with farmers, the govt is encouraging cultivation of fine paddy by offering a ₹500 per quintal bonus. Procured grain is processed into fine rice and supplied to ration card holders, he said.Fine rice is also being supplied to govt schools, hostels and Anganwadi centres, Uttam added.
