Civil supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that fine rice would be distributed to all ration card holders from January as a ‘New Year gift’, a key election promise of the Congress government. Reddy stressed the importance of delivering the best quality rice to consumers.
He also directed officials to supply wheat at subsidised prices wherever needed. Addressing a state-level vigilance committee meeting here on Thursday, the minister issued a stern warning to fair price shops and their dealers against diverting rice earmarked for the public distribution system (PDS). He called for cancellation of dealerships to such violators.