Hyderabad, Apr 9: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy will launch the Rs two per kg rice scheme in the state at Jadcherla town in Mahaboobnagar District.

Reddy told reporters here on Tuesday that the scheme was aimed at ensuring food security for the poor. "It is one of the important measures to ensure food security for the poor. It shows our commitment to the welfare of the poor," he said.

At least 1.85 crore families living below poverty line (BPL) and having white ration cards would be entitled for rice under the scheme.

Official sources said that till now the white card holders were getting rice at Rs 5.25 per kg through fair price shops, at a cost of nearly Rs 900 crore per year on the state exchequer. The new rice scheme is expected to put an additional annual burden of over Rs 1,000 crore.

Three days in the month are to be set aside for rice distribution with each family scheduled to get 20 kg per month till June this year. From July onwards, the rice would be distributed on the first three days of the month.

Former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder N. T. Rama Rao first introduced the Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme after coming to power in 1983. He had reduced the price of rice at fair price (FP) shops from Rs 3.25 to Rs 2 per kg.

It was later modified by the Chandrababu Naidu government in the mid-1990s.

The YSR government had increased the price to Rs 5.25 per kg after it came to power, and the same is being set to be offered now for Rs 2 per kg. (ANI)