Spearheaded by Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, this initiative has reinstated ration distribution across 29,761 fair price shops, serving 1.46 crore families statewide with renewed efficiency and trust.
Published Jun 03, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 03, 2025 | 10:00 AM
The return to the traditional ration shop model has garnered widespread public approval.
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh’s revival of fair price shops under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has reformed the Public Distribution System, restoring efficiency, transparency, and public trust while saving ₹768 crore annually. A survey revealed nearly 90 percent public support for replacing the failed Mobile Dispensing Units introduced by the previous YSRCP regime, which had led to ration diversion and black-market proliferation.
The reintroduction of fair price shops in Andhra Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has revitalised the Public Distribution System (PDS), marking a pivotal shift towards transparent and accountable governance.
Spearheaded by Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, this initiative has reinstated ration distribution across 29,761 fair price shops, serving 1.46 crore families statewide with renewed efficiency and trust.
The return to the traditional ration shop model has garnered widespread public approval.
A survey by the research organisation People’s Pulse, conducted in early 2025, found that nearly 90 percent of respondents favoured this restoration, expressing dissatisfaction with the Mobile Dispensing Units (MDUs) introduced by the previous Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government.
The MDUs, initially promoted as a revolutionary “door delivery” reform, fell short due to erratic schedules and operational inefficiencies.
Often stopping at street ends – mockingly termed “street delivery” by citizens – these units facilitated ration diversion and fuelled a black market network, undermining the PDS’s core purpose.
The YSRCP regime’s expenditure of over ₹1,650 crore on 9,260 MDUs proved to be a misstep, failing to deliver value to the public.
In contrast, the current administration’s shift back to fair price shops has plugged systemic loopholes, saving approximately ₹768 crore annually. Previously, an estimated ₹1,700 crore was misused under the guise of doorstep delivery.
This prudent redirection of resources underscores the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and public welfare.
Operating daily, including Sundays, from 8 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, the revitalised fair price shops prioritise convenience.
Special provisions ensure that senior citizens above 65 and persons with disabilities receive home delivery of rations by the 5th of each month.
A notable example is the personal delivery to Krishna Shetty Gopal, an elderly beneficiary in Vakalapudi, Kakinada district, reflecting the administration’s dedication to empathy and dignity in service.
To bolster accountability, the government has deployed advanced transparency measures: dedicated WhatsApp groups for real-time updates, ePoS devices, weighing machines, CCTV surveillance, and QR codes at every outlet for swift grievance redressal.
A mobile application now tracks each transaction, ensuring end-to-end visibility and curbing leakages that plagued the prior system.
Enhanced security at key ports – Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Krishnapatnam, and Nellore – has tackled the smuggling of ration rice, an illicit trade that thrived under the previous regime.
These decisive measures have dismantled the operations of the so-called “ration mafia,” safeguarding essential supplies for intended beneficiaries.
Looking ahead, the government plans to transform fair price shops into “mini-malls,” expanding offerings beyond subsidised rice to include millets and essentials like ragi, bajra, jowar, and foxtail millet.
This aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s goals of enhancing nutritional security and public health, addressing the dietary needs of diverse populations.
The new regime has also prioritised the dignity and working conditions of ration dealers, addressing grievances and harassment they faced previously.
This has fostered a collaborative relationship between service providers and beneficiaries, strengthening the PDS ecosystem.
The revival of fair price shops stands as a landmark reform in Andhra Pradesh’s governance framework.
By delivering essential commodities at subsidised rates, the government mitigates inflation’s impact on vulnerable sections, upholds food security, and elevates living standards for low-income households.
With a focus on minimum nutritional thresholds and economic sustainability, these PDS reforms transcend administrative adjustments – they embody a commitment to equitable welfare and progressive governance.
This revamped ration regime positions Andhra Pradesh as a model for transparent, efficient, and inclusive food distribution, setting a benchmark for other states to emulate.
(The writer is a senior policy analyst.)
