Notwithstanding the delay in issuance of Food Security Cards, the one rupee-a-kilo rice will be supplied to all eligible families from January 1, finance and civil supplies minister Etela Rajender has said.

Besides, all hostels and schools, where the mid-day meal scheme is being implemented, will be supplied with superfine rice.

Under the new scheme, the state government intends to provide 6 kg of rice per person at `1 a kilo without any cap on the quantity of rice provided to a family.

With the new FS Cards, beneficiaries can obtain all provisions including rice and cereals but not oil.  “The new cards will be pink in colour and their distribution will be completed by the end of January,” he told presspersons here on Saturday after holding a video conference with civil supplies officials and district joint collectors. All public representatives and district ministers will launch the programme in their respective districts. Claiming that there would be no scope for corruption, he said the process of distribution of provisions through fair price shops would be transparent. “Fair price shops will be rationalised to ensure that margin of such dealers remains reasonable.”

The minister reiterated that the process of distributing FS Cards was continuous and said there was no need to panic. “Families increase over time. So there would be issuance of new cards. This is a continuous process,” he said.