More ration cards than households in Andhra

With the introduction of Rs 2 a kg rice scheme in the early 80s by Telugu Desam Party founder and matinee idol N T Rama Rao, the public distribution system in Andhra Pradesh has evolved into a 49,000-strong dealer network.

The Congress government under Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had reintroduced the Rs 2 a kg rice scheme. The present government under CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy has been offering this at Rs 1 a kg since November 2011.

The state civil supplies department, which overseas the PDS, currently handles the distribution of four million tonnes of rice a year to both, below poverty line and above poverty line families. In addition, the government recently launched a supplementary scheme called 'Amma Hastam' which gives a package of nine essential items.