*August 23, 2024*In a significant policy update, Telangana’s Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that fine rice will be distributed to all ration card holders starting January 2025, as a New Year gift. This initiative fulfills a key election promise made by the Congress government.Minister Reddy emphasized the need for high-quality rice and directed officials to ensure its availability at fair prices. He also instructed officials to supply wheat at subsidized rates wherever necessary. During a state-level vigilance committee meeting, Reddy issued a stern warning to fair price shops and their dealers against diverting rice intended for the Public Distribution System (PDS), advocating for the cancellation of dealerships for violators.Concerns about the quality and quantity of rice supplied under the mid-day meal scheme were raised by Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. In response, Reddy directed officials to address these issues with urgency, particularly focusing on rice supplied to residential schools, hostels, and anganwadi centers.Additionally, Reddy expressed concerns about the quality of fortified rice and called for rigorous checks to ensure beneficiaries receive the proper quantity and quality. He also proposed increasing the number of Antyodaya cards and urged officials to address the 1,629 vacancies in fair price shops.Civil Supplies Commissioner D.S. Chauhan assured that a detailed report on these issues would be provided within the next 10 days.