Congress government now uses PDS carry bags to push publicity for ‘Six Guarantees’

The Telangana government will distribute PDS rice in jute bags carrying the Congress Six Guarantees logo and photos of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy from September. While officials call it welfare promotion, dealers see it as publicity

Karimnagar: The State government has decided to distribute carry bags with the Congress Six Guarantees logo and photographs of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy along with PDS rice from September.

The move comes after the government tried to draw political mileage from introducing fine variety rice through fair price shops and is now seeking to extend publicity of its flagship promises.

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The eco-friendly jute bags, with a capacity of 15 kg, will be filled with rice and handed over to card holders at PDS outlets. Though September quota rice has already reached ration shops, the bags are yet to be supplied.

Each bag carries the Six Guarantees logo – Mahalakshmi, Gruhalakshmi, Yuva Vikasam, Indiramma houses, Cheyutha and Rythu Bharosa – besides photographs of the Chief Minister and the Civil Supplies Minister.

A slogan, “Andariki Sanna Biyyam Praja Prabutvamlone Sadyam” (fine variety rice to all is possible only under Congress government), is printed on the bags along with the tagline, “Pragathi Patham Sakalajana Hitham Mana Praja Prabuthvam.”

Officials said card holders would be given the bag after biometric verification on the point-of-sale (POS) machine.

While the government views this as a tool to promote welfare schemes, some dealers have termed it a publicity gimmick. They questioned the need for bags when most people already bring their own.

Dealers pointed out that the bags could only hold rice for two-member families but conceded they would serve as a reminder of Congress schemes when taken to markets or reused.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to begin rice distribution to new ration card holders from next month. Anticipating heavy rains during the current monsoon, the State had supplied three months’ quota for June, July and August in advance.