Nadendla launches Smart Rice Card distribution in Vijayawada

Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar kickstarted the Smart Rice Cards distribution system in Vijayawada on Monday morning.

Accompanied by Vijayawada East MLA Gadde Ramamohan Rao, NTR district Collector Lakshmisha and other officials, he gave away the smart cards to the beneficiaries at their doorstep at Varalakshminagar near Amma Kalyana Mandapam in Moghalrajapuram.

He said that 5.90 lakh smart cards would be distributed in NTR district.

Later, Mr. Manohar, along with Penamaluru MLA Bode Prasad, Civil Supplies Commissioner Saurabh Gaur, Joint Collector Geetanjali Sharma and other officials made door-to-door visits in B.J.R. Nagar of Poranki, which falls in Krishna district, and distributed the cards to the beneficiaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Manohar said in all, 4.42 crore Smart Rice Cards, which ensure transparency in supply of ration through Fair Price Shops, would be distributed in nine districts initially.

He said the card-holders can collect ration from any shop across the State from the 1^st to 15^th of every month. The family details of the beneficiaries and the transactions made month-wise by them can be accessed through their mobile phones by scanning the QR Code on the card.

If any card-holder wants to change the house address, names of the family members and other details on the smart cards, they can do so by approaching the village or ward secretariats, Mr. Manohar said.

“Smart Rice Card will act as ID Card, and if the card-holders face any problems they can dial ‘196’. In Krishna district, 5,17,825 smart cards will be distributed,” the Minister said.

Mr. Bode Prasad thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and the Civil Supplies Minister for launching the scheme in Penamaluru constituency.

“For the first time, Smart Rice Cards have been launched in the State, and now there will be no scope for irregularities in supply of ration,” the MLA said.