1.46 Crore AP Families to Get Smart Ration Cards by Sept 15
The scheme aims for transparency, portability and doorstep delivery of benefits
Vijayawada: Union minister of state for rural development Pemmasani Chandrasekhar has said Andhra Pradesh is pioneering the Smart Card initiative for ration distribution.
A special programme for the distribution of QR code-based Smart ration cards was held in Nandivelugu village of Tenali mandal by the state government on Sunday, at which Chandrasekhar, state civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar and MLC Alapati Rajendra Prasad were present.
Chandrashekhar praised AP for pioneering smart ration card implementation and cited other welfare steps, such as increasing monthly pensions to Rs 4,000 and the Thalliki Vandhanam" programme, which recently transferred Rs 10,000 crore to needy students’ mothers in a single day.
The Union minister also noted that the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme has transferred over Rs 3,175 crore in cash assistance to farmers. “The state government continues to prioritise development, including infrastructure projects in Amaravati and Polavaram while road repairs and construction are progressing, ensuring the state’s growth momentum,” he said.
Minister Manohar said a total of 1.46 crore eligible beneficiaries across the state would receive their smart ration cards by September 15. In Guntur district alone, 5.85 lakh people would be covered, with 83,000 households in Tenali constituency included in the drive. “By providing these cards directly to every home, we are ensuring transparency and efficiency in welfare delivery,” he said.
Manohar explained that smart ration cards are embedded with QR codes, allowing instant tracking of beneficiary purchases and ensuring that entitlements reach the intended recipients. He further explained that the government is distributing essentials such as pulses, wheat, and cooking oil based on local needs through 29,000 fair price shops across the state.
He also spoke of the toll-free hotline (1967) for public queries and the portability option enabled by smart cards, allowing residents to collect their rations from any outlet in the state.