Latest news with #CivilSuppliesandConsumerAffairs
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Distribution of smart ration cards across Andhra from August 25
VIJAYAWADA: Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Nadendla Manohar on Tuesday announced that smart ration cards will be distributed free of cost statewide from August 25 to 31. Speaking at the Secretariat, the minister said that 1,45,97,486 beneficiaries would receive the new cards, with distribution events organised in every constituency under the supervision of local legislators and district ministers. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan will lead the programme at the State level. Nadendla said that Andhra Pradesh had become the first State in India to achieve 96.05% KYC completion for ration cards. Of the 16,08,612 applications received for changes and additions, 15,32,758 were approved, enrolling 9,87,644 new beneficiaries. The total number of beneficiaries now stands at 4,29,79,897, with 2.68 crore receiving supplies from the Centre and 1.61 crore from the State. He said the government had digitised old ration cards and introduced secure, debit card-style smart cards with QR codes to improve transparency and accountability. The cards will carry the head of the family's photo and names of all members, with each transaction digitally logged through a Dynamic Key Register linked to the central office. No political images will be printed on the cards. From September, ration distribution will take place at 26,796 fair price shops between 8 am and 12 pm and again from 4 pm to 8 pm between the 1st and 15th of each month. Home delivery will continue for those above 65 and the differently-abled from the 26th to the 30th. Regarding the Deepam 2 free gas refill scheme, Nadendla said that 97.59 lakh cylinders worth Rs 764 crore were distributed free during phase one and 93.46 lakh cylinders worth Rs 747 crore in phase two. A pilot project in NTR and Krishna districts is testing direct digital payments to gas agencies through Punjab National Bank's wallet system, with 1,384 beneficiaries so far.
News18
18 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Punjab govt to bring OTS scheme for arhtiyas
Chandigarh, Jul 29 (PTI) Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Tuesday said the Punjab government will bring One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme to reduce the burden of interest and penalties on shops and plots allotted to the 'arhtiyas' (commission agents) in mandis (grain markets) across the state. Khudian, who is also the head of the Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted to further streamline paddy and other Kharif crops procurement to ensure a hassle-free experience for farmers, said the Punjab Mandi Board's OTS scheme is expected to benefit a large number of 'arhtiyas', enhancing their financial stability and contributing to the overall growth of the agricultural sector in Punjab. The 'arhtiyas', who were also present on the occasion, said the payment rate of loading the produce in the mandis has not been increased since many years. They demanded an increase in the payment rate to which Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Director Varinder Kumar Sharma replied that an approval with regard to the same has been given by the Government of India and the notification would be issued soon. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab government has constituted a GoM, comprising Agriculture Minister Khudian as the chairman, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal as members to ensure smooth procurement of Kharif crops, said an official statement. PTI SUN AS AS view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 22:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Smart ration cards to be given to 1.45 crore beneficiaries in A.P. from August 25
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Nadendla Manohar announced that smart ration cards will be distributed free of cost to 1.45 crore beneficiaries across the State from August 25 to 31. At a press conference at the Secretariat here on Tuesday, he said the distribution will take place through constituency-level events led by MLAs, district-level programmes by Ministers, and State-wide events under the leadership of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. Andhra Pradesh became the first State in India to complete 96.05% KYC for ration cards. About 11.47 lakh people, aged either under five years or above 80, are exempt from KYC. Out of over 16 lakh change requests in ration cards, more than 15 lakh have been approved, Mr. Manohar said. Nearly 9.87 lakh new members have been added, bringing the total beneficiary count to 4.29 crore. Of these, 2.68 crore will receive ration from the Centre and 1.61 crore from the State. The smart cards, similar to debit/credit cards, include the head of household's photo, member names, and are linked via dynamic QR codes for real-time tracking. From next month, ration shops will operate on a fixed schedule. Home delivery continues for the elderly and physically-challenged pensioners. The State has also successfully implemented the Deepam-2 LPG subsidy scheme, transferring over ₹1,500 crore directly into beneficiaries' accounts, the Minister said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM, leaders pay tribute to soldiers at war memorial on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas in Puducherry
PUDUCHERRY Chief Minister N. Rangasamy led the celebration of Kargil Vijay Diwas at the war memorial on the Promenade Beach on Saturday (July 26, 2025) to honour the sacrifice made by Indian soldiers in the 1999 war with Pakistan. Mr. Rangasamy placed a wreath at the memorial site and paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil War. Speaker R. Selvam, Home Minister A. Namassivayam, Public Works Minister K. Lakshminarayanan, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister P.R.N. Thirumurugan, Deputy Speaker P. Rajavelu, Government Whip V. Aroumougame and R. Baskar, S. Ramesh and U. Lakshmikandhan, MLAs offered floral tributes. Chief Secretary Sharat Chauhan, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) R. Sathyasundaram, Information Secretary Mohammed Ahsan Abid, District Collector A. Kulothungan, officers from Indian Coast Guard and NCC and ex-servicemen participated. The event concluded with the observance of two-minute silence.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tenali will be a model in P4 implementation: AP Minister Nadendla Manohar
GUNTUR: Tenali will be a model constituency for poverty eradication under the newly launched P4 initiative, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Nadendla Manohar announced on Wednesday. Speaking at the Tenali Vision Action Plan meeting at the Secretariat, Nadendla, who is also the Tenali MLA, revealed that 14,280 'Golden Families' have been identified in the region, with 238 donors pledging to support around 4,000 families. These families will receive assistance in employment, education, healthcare, agriculture, chronic illness support, and bank loans. The P4 programme aims to uplift 50 lakh families from poverty by 2029 as part of Vision 2047, he affirmed. A dedicated website: will soon be launched. The minister also called for participation from NRIs and non-resident Tenali citizens, encouraging them to join as mentors. An orientation event for volunteers will be held soon. 'This action plan is a roadmap to transform Tenali and replicate the model across the State to systematically eliminate poverty,' Nadendla said. Sub-Collector Sanjana Simha, Municipal Commissioner Lakshmipathi Rao, and others were present at the meeting.
