Hyderabad – The new fine rice distribution program rolled out by the Congress-led Telangana government is receiving a strong response from the public. People across the state are lining up at Fair Price Shops (FPS) to collect their share of the high-quality ‘sanna biyyam’, or fine rice.
This initiative is part of the government’s major ration scheme, under which about 80 to 84 percent of the state’s population—roughly 3.10 crore people—are getting 6 kilograms of premium rice per person every month, completely free.
In Hyderabad, distribution began on May 3, following the lifting of the election code of conduct for the MLC elections. Since then, the FPS outlets have seen a surge in visitors. “People who usually don’t visit ration shops are now standing in long lines,” said Sandhya Rani, a domestic worker. She added that some were worried the rice might run out quickly and tried to jump the queue.
Residents who picked up the rice from Public Distribution System (PDS) centers, particularly in the Old City areas, said they were pleased with the quality. “We never used to cook the old rice we got from ration shops—it was only good for making dosas,” said Fouzia Begum from Chandrayangutta. “But this new rice is clean, soft, and better than what we buy from grocery stores.”
On May 4, Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy called the scheme a historic move. “For the first time in India, such a large number of people are receiving quality rice for free,” he announced. He criticized the previous BRS government for distributing low-grade, coarse rice that often ended up in poultry farms or beer factories instead of helping the poor.
Reddy claimed the former administration spent Rs 10,665 crore annually to supply 24 lakh metric tonnes of rice that most people refused to eat. In contrast, he said the Congress government has allocated Rs 13,000 crore to ensure real food security.
He explained that the current success is due to timely procurement, bonuses for farmers, and policies that support agriculture. “We bought every grain of Vaanakalam paddy at Minimum Support Price (MSP) and gave an additional Rs 500 bonus per quintal for fine rice varieties,” Reddy added.
With the scheme in full swing, many families across Telangana are now cooking and enjoying rice that meets their standards—something they say they haven’t experienced in years.
