PNS|Kakinada
Minister for Civil Supplies Nadendla Manohar has announced that ration shops in the State will gradually be transformed into mini malls, with a focus on protecting public health.
Inaugurating the new system of ration supply at an FP shop at Vakalapudi in Kakinada Rural constituency on Sunday, the Minister said that within just four hours in the morning, ration commodities were distributed to 8.15 lakh families through 29,761 ration shops across the State. He said the government is using Fair Price shops to ensure transparency in the public distribution system.
Later, the Minister personally delivered ration goods to an elderly man, Krishnamsetty Gopal, at his doorstep.
Speaking to the media, Manohar criticised the previous YSRCP government for allegedly ruining the established ration distribution system. “Fair price shops used to operate from 8am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8 pm.
But the previous government misused Rs 1,650 crore on 9,260 Mobile Dispensing Unit (MDU) vehicles that failed to deliver rations properly. They were parked in street corners, leaving people waiting,” he said.
He claimed the government had falsely reported that 93% of ration distribution was completed in a single day.
The Minister urged ration dealers to work sincerely and restore public confidence. He also assured that the alliance government would fulfil all pre-election promises.
Government Whip in the Legislative Council P. Hariprasad, Kakinada Rural MLA Pantham Nanaji, Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman Thota Sudhir, DCCB Chairman Tummala Babu, former Minister Chikkala Ramachandra-rao, Civil Supplies Commissioner Sourabh Gour, and Joint Collector Rahul Meena were present.
