Sanna biyyam scheme state’s own, Centre has no role: Uttam Kumar Reddy

Civil supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday said the Congress government deserved full credit for the historic and transformational rollout of the 'sanna biyyam' (free fine rice distribution scheme), calling it a landmark moment in India’s welfare history. He said nearly 3.1 crore people, around 84 per cent of Telangana’s population, would benefit from the scheme. Dismissing criticism by the BJP and the BRS, he clarified that the Centre was providing only 5 kg of coarse rice in limited quantities, while it was the Congress government that was giving 6 kg of fine rice per



beneficiary in Telangana by spending over ₹13,000 crore a year.

Addressing a video conference from Jala Soudha with MPs, MLCs, MLAs, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the scheme was being implemented across the state by the civil supplies department and was undoubtedly a Congress government initiative. He said it was misleading to give credit to the Centre, as it was giving money only for coarse rice. But the fine rice, which is of higher quality and preferred by families, was being procured and distributed by the state government.