Special counters for steam, raw rice at Rythu Bazaar

Visakhapatnam: In an initiative aimed at ensuring the availability of quality rice to consumers at affordable prices, Visakhapatnam District in-charge Collector Gobbilla Vidyadhari and Visakhapatnam North constituency MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju on Monday inaugurated a special sales centre for steam rice and raw rice at the Seethammadhara Rythu Bazaar.

Inspecting the newly established facility, the District In-charge Collector reviewed the rice procurement and sales policy, pricing, storage facilities and distribution arrangements, while offering valuable suggestions to officials for the effective implementation of the programme.

She appealed to consumers visiting the Rythu Bazaar to use the special rice counters facilitated for their benefit. The in-charge Collector mentioned that the Civil Supplies department launched the initiative in accordance with the Andhra Pradesh government’s directions to provide high-quality rice to the public at prices lower than those sold in the open market. She stated that in the first phase, special rice sales counters have been arranged at seven Rythu Bazaars across Visakhapatnam district to ensure easy access to affordable food grains.

Highlighting the scheme’s benefits, she informed that while every member of a white ration card family already receives five kilograms of free rice every month, eligible ration card holders can now purchase an additional 10-kg of quality rice every month at subsidised rates through these special centres. She stated that the initiative is aimed at reducing the financial burden on households while ensuring the availability of quality food grains to the public.

As part of the district-wide rollout, Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao inaugurated a special rice sales centre at the Gajuwaka Rythu Bazaar, while Visakhapatnam East MLA Velagapudi Rama Krishna Babu launched a similar facility at the MVP Rythu Bazaar, extending the benefits of the programme to more consumers across the city. District civil supplies officer Bhaskara Rao, assistant civil supplies officer Kalyani, public representatives and officials participated in the inaugural programmes.