The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Ration cards for all by March: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 16, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Ration cards for all by March: Minister

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: Agriculture and Civil Supplies Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy has asked officials to leave no stone unturned in the preparations for distributing ration cards at the doorsteps of every house in the State by March 31, 2006.

He was speaking at a workshop on "Issue of ration cards in urban and rural areas" here on Tuesday. Joint Collectors, District Supply Officers and other officials from all over the State were present.

Power backup

The issue of making available eight-hour power backup for Iris cameras and printers to be located in the trucks which will visit every village was discussed at length. Karimnagar Joint Collector Christiana Z. Chongthu suggested that panchayat buildings in villages could be used instead of having the entire household queuing up near the truck for being photographed.

Mr. Reddy said Revenue and Civil Supplies officials would coordinate with the AP Transco to ensure uninterrupted power supply in villages where the teams take up issue of ration cards.

`Over enthusiasm'

Speaking to newsmen later, the Minister sought an end to the controversy that only those with ration cards would get LPG refills. He said officials in some districts had announced such a decision in their enthusiasm to see that every household was covered.

Mr. Reddy said the State capital would be covered next month. Initial estimates had put the number of cards -- both pink and white -- at about two crores.

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