Telangana considers subsidised essentials through ration shops

Telangana is considering adding subsidised essentials to ration-shop supplies as prices rise.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy asked officials to examine selling wheat flour, lentils, palm oil, sugar, tamarind and chilli powder.

The proposal is still under review, and the government will decide after officials assess costs, sourcing, quantities and how distribution would work.

The plan is intended to ease the price burden on poorer families, while the state also prepares for possible El Niño-related drought and crop losses.

Telangana's public distribution system serves 3.42 crore people, and the minister wants food supplies protected even if harvests fall or prices rise.

The state has 9.64 lakh tonnes of rice in reserve, with another 18.39 lakh tonnes due; together, these stocks would cover about 11.7 months of needs, while officials are planning for 14 months.

Officials have been told to ensure the pending rice reaches government warehouses on time and to prepare detailed proposals for the subsidised goods.