Finance Minister Etala Rajender today informed the Council that distribution of ration cards to eligible families would be taken up by November or December this year.
Replying to a question raised by MLCs in the Council, the minister attributed the delay for non-completion of linking work of Aadhar cards. The State government, which was committed to welfare of the poor, was providing rice to 89 lakh families in the State free of cost, Etala said. With this, two crore 82 lakh people are getting benefitted, he added.
Replying to another question, the Finance Minister said the State government would take stern action against those ration shop dealers who were found committing irregularities. The government would not hesitate to register cases under IPC against such persons, he said. He also said the government would consider opening of ration shops in remote girijan (tandas) villages facilitating them to avail the benefits under Public Distribution Scheme. (NSS)