Hyderabad: As the Centre pushes states to distribute a three-month stock of ration rice in a single instalment, officials are weighing the benefits of the move against fears that a large portion of the subsidised grain could be diverted to the black market. The proposal, aimed at helping poor families cope with the harsh summer months, would see beneficiaries receive their entire quarterly quota at once — a move that has already triggered concerns among authorities monitoring the public distribution system (PDS). The Centre has instructed states to distribute a three-month supply of ration rice in one go so that the less fortunate can better manage during the summer heat. Under the plan, each beneficiary would receive 18 kilograms of rice at once. However, reports suggest that brokers are preparing to purchase the subsidised grain in large quantities from beneficiaries, raising fears of diversion. Officials estimate that nearly two lakh metric tonnes of this stock could potentially find its way into the black market through illegal diversion. Taking these risks into account, authorities said a final decision on the three-month distribution plan would be taken within two days, depending on stock availability and overall feasibility. Rs 18k cr expenditureAt present, the state govt supplies fine rice instead of coarse rice through the PDS, a move that costs the exchequer about ₹18,000 crore annually for procurement. Over the past six months, vigilance officials seized 1,500 quintals of PDS rice during inspections. Though cases were registered, authorities say illegal trading continues as the practice offers an easy avenue for profit. Allegations also point to brokers operating in collusion with ration dealers to quietly run the diversion network.Across the state, 2.02 lakh metric tonnes of rice is distributed every month to nearly 3.20 crore beneficiaries using 1.02 crore ration cards. If the govt decides to distribute the entire three-month quota at once, ration shops would need to handle close to six lakh metric tonnes of rice in a single cycle.The idea of bulk distribution is not entirely new. During the last rainy season, a similar exercise created significant logistical challenges for both ration dealers and beneficiaries. Many dealers struggled due to inadequate storage space to hold such large quantities of rice at once. Biometric glitchesBeneficiaries also faced difficulties with the biometric system linked to the e-POS machines used in ration shops. To claim their entire three-month quota, they had to provide fingerprints three times on the device. When server problems occurred, processing a single ration card could take 10 to 15 minutes, forcing many people to make repeated visits to the shop over a two-week period. To prevent a repeat of these problems, officials are now examining several options, including introducing special software upgrades, revising procedures and exploring alternative distribution methods. While the plan could reduce transportation costs and lighten the workload for field staff, officials say the govt’s priority is to ensure the system functions smoothly without causing inconvenience to beneficiaries. Authorities are therefore assessing both the logistical challenges and the risk of diversion before taking a final call on the proposal, sources said.
