Vijayawada: Civil society groups raised concerns over the alleged smuggling of ration rice in Andhra Pradesh, attributing it to distribution of substandard quality rice under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Experts argued that until the govt addresses the quality issue, ration mafia will continue to thrive.
As part of its food security initiative, state govt provides free rice to below poverty line (BPL) families, allocating five kilograms per person, each month. However, complaints from beneficiaries suggested that the rice was unfit for consumption. Unable to used the rice for cooking, many recipients reportedly sell it to local cartels for as low as 10 per kilogram.
Explaining the dilemma faced by beneficiaries, M Raghubabu, a senior citizen from Gudivada, said, “The rice we receive is not edible. We use a small portion for making dosas, but the rest is sold to cartels. If govt provides good quality rice, it will be more helpful,” he said.
Meanwhile, several activists including CPM state secretariat member Ch. Babu Rao, blamed the govt for supplying poor-quality rice.
“Govt spends 43.40 per kilogram but distributes rice that is not fit for consumption. Meanwhile, quality rice in the open market costs 50 per kilogram. This negligence fuels the ration mafia,” he said.
Authorities have come across instances where rice millers recycle ration rice and sell it back to the govt.
Civil supply officials found instances of smuggled rice being polished using rice sortex machines at Kakinada port and exported overseas.
Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar acknowledged the issue and expressed concern over the sophisticated operations involved in rice smuggling. Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan has proposed measures to curb the racket and improve rice quality or implement direct benefit transfer (DBT) to provide cash in place of ration.
It may be recalled that the Jana Sena had promised such reforms in its 2019 election manifesto. Pawan recently reiterated the need for immediate action during his visit to Kakinada port.
Govt is reportedly considering long-term solutions to ensure better quality ration rice or switch to direct benefit transfer with an aim to dismantle the ration mafia once and for all.
Experts argued that until the govt addresses the quality issue, ration mafia will continue to thrive.
As part of its food security initiative, state govt provides free rice to below poverty line (BPL) families, allocating five kilograms per person, each month. However, complaints from beneficiaries suggested that the rice was unfit for consumption. Unable to used the rice for cooking, many recipients reportedly sell it to local cartels for as low as 10 per kilogram.
Explaining the dilemma faced by beneficiaries, M Raghubabu, a senior citizen from Gudivada, said, “The rice we receive is not edible. We use a small portion for making dosas, but the rest is sold to cartels. If govt provides good quality rice, it will be more helpful,” he said.
Meanwhile, several activists including CPM state secretariat member Ch. Babu Rao, blamed the govt for supplying poor-quality rice.
“Govt spends 43.40 per kilogram but distributes rice that is not fit for consumption. Meanwhile, quality rice in the open market costs 50 per kilogram. This negligence fuels the ration mafia,” he said.
Authorities have come across instances where rice millers recycle ration rice and sell it back to the govt.
Civil supply officials found instances of smuggled rice being polished using rice sortex machines at Kakinada port and exported overseas.
Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar acknowledged the issue and expressed concern over the sophisticated operations involved in rice smuggling. Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan has proposed measures to curb the racket and improve rice quality or implement direct benefit transfer (DBT) to provide cash in place of ration.
It may be recalled that the Jana Sena had promised such reforms in its 2019 election manifesto. Pawan recently reiterated the need for immediate action during his visit to Kakinada port.
Govt is reportedly considering long-term solutions to ensure better quality ration rice or switch to direct benefit transfer with an aim to dismantle the ration mafia once and for all.
