TS Govt de-links Arogyasri with white ration cards

Hyderabad, Nov 13 (INN): Finance Minister Etala Rajender has announced that ration cards will no more be linked to Arogyasri, the health insurance scheme for poor, or other welfare schemes.

"White ration cards will only provide subsidised rice for the poor," he announced in the Telangana State Legislative Assembly on Thursday while replying to a question on issuing new ration cards during Question Hour.

He said that while the government would separately deal with Arogyasri and other welfare schemes, they would no more be linked to white ration cards. He assured that the issuing of new ration cards would begin next month soon after the completion of process of introduction of pension scheme.

Etala, who also holds the portfolio f Civil Supplies, informed that the House that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao wanted to have a broader perspective on the issue of ration cards. Therefore, a Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted which held five meeting before submitting its report to the Chief Minister.

He said that the Chief Minister has accepted all the recommendations made by the Cabinet Sub-Committee. He said that the government was firm on weeding out fake ration card beneficiaries.

He said while the government would ensure that all deserving beneficiaries get subsidised rice and other benefits, it would take steps to end irregularities. He said old ration cards would be valid till new cards are issued.

Speaking on the issue, BJP MLA Chintala Ramchandra Reddy criticised the government for seeking fresh applications for ration cards despite conducting the Intensive Household Survey. He also condemned the Chief Minister for not convening the all-party meeting on the issue.

He also pointed that the Health Cards issued to government employees were not being honoured by the private hospitals on the grounds that the government did not sign any MoU with them. Further, municipal and employees working for other corporations are yet to get the health cards.

TDP leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao accused the government of creating confusion among the people over new ration cards. Congress MLA T Jeevan Reddy said that the previous government had linked several welfare schemes like Arogyasri, pension and fee reimbursement with white ration cards.

However, by de-linking the ration cards, the TRS Government was causing hardship for the poor people. MIM MLA Jaffer Hussain Meraj asked the government to conduct proper verification before cancelling the existing cards. He also sought clarification on the status of pink ration cards.

Accusing the government of lacking clarity on the issue and in protest against de-linking of white ration cards with Arogyasri scheme, Congress, TDP and BJP members staged a walk out from the House. The CPM and YSRCP MLAs too registered their protest on the issue.