Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched the Family Digital Cards Project on a pilot basis on Thursday, saying that the cards are meant to make the benefits of welfare schemes available to the public.
Stating that this is similar to the Aadhaar card, the Chief Minister said that Family Digital Cards would be issued under the ‘one state one card’ policy and would become a protective cover for families.
The cards can be used to get ration under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and avail of the health insurance scheme Arogyasri, fee reimbursement and other schemes. Information relating to 30 different departments will be available at the click of a button.
Currently, families who do not have ration cards are unable to avail the benefits of welfare schemes, and Revanth Reddy assured that all poor families would be provided the cards.
He said the digital cards would have the medical profile of families like treatment availed and medicines used earlier. This will help doctors in treating the beneficiaries in case of emergencies.
Revanth said that using these cards, the families who migrated to cities and towns from villages can get ration in areas where they are now staying.
The pilot project is being implemented at two places in all the 119 constituencies. The authorities will address problems that can be faced during this phase. Women will be enrolled as the heads of families in these digital cards.
In all Assembly constituencies, an official of the rank of Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) will oversee the implementation of this pilot project.
Stating that his government is determined to make sure that the benefits of welfare schemes reach beneficiaries, the Chief Minister said the digital cards were designed after a study of similar programmes being implemented in other states.
Targeting the BRS, he said that for 10 years, people ran around government offices for ration cards. “People realised that as long as KCR is in power they will not get ration cards. That’s why they brought the Congress to power,” he said.
Revanth said that due to misdeeds and huge borrowings by the BRS government, the state plunged into a debt trap. He claimed that the Congress government was moving ahead by correcting the mistakes of the BRS government.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, public representatives and top officials attended the programme held at the Secunderabad Hockey Grounds.
