Harish Rao demands Congress government to increase income, landholding limit for ration card eligibility

BRS MLA T Harish Rao criticised the Congress government for its inaction until pressured, appealed to State government to revise its income and landholding limit to ensure ration cards reach more low-income families

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao appealed to the State government to revise its income and landholding limit to ensure ration cards reach more low-income families, particularly in light of rising inflation. He demanded further reforms, including extending the eligibility criteria to ensure no poor family is left out.

He welcomed the recent announcement to issue ration cards to Praja Palana applicants, terming it a victory for the BRS. However, he criticised the Congress government for its inaction until pressured.

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In a statement on Sunday, Harish Rao reminded former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao‘s progressive reforms, expanding eligibility for ration cards by raising the income cap in rural areas from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh and in urban areas from Rs 75,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. Landholding limits were also increased, enabling lakhs of poor families to access basic needs.

He appreciated that the application process will remain continuous to prevent further deprivation. He also demanded that Mee-Seva applications are also considered for ration cards.

The former Minister also emphasised the need to include marginalised groups such as ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, contract employees and outsourcing workers, among others, in the ration cards. He called for extending the Indiramma Atmeeya Bharosa scheme to all agricultural labourers, both rural and urban, without linking it to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

“The poor, whether in villages or cities, remain marginalized. Ration cards and welfare schemes must be accessible without arbitrary cuts or restrictive conditions,” he asserted.

Harish Rao reaffirmed that the BRS will continue to raise issues of public concern and hold the Congress government accountable for inclusive welfare policies. He demanded that the government address rising inflation by revising income and land limits to ensure fair access for low-income families. “Every time you try to deceive people, we will question,” he warned.