Amaravati: People in Andhra Pradesh will get free ration at their door-steps on March 29 in view of the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus, State Civil Supplies Minister Kodali Venkateswara Rao said. The cash assistance will be distributed to all ration card holders on April 4 through the village volunteers, Rao said and appealed to the public to cooperate with the government in containing the spread of COVID-19, which has so far affected eight people in the State.
The Chief Minister convened a review meeting on Wednesday. The meeting discussed ways to successfully implement the concept of social distancing while reducing hardships to the people of the State. Apart from decentralizing farm produce markets and bringing vegetable distribution closer homes in cities and towns, the government was making arrangements for maintaining social distancing at shops and other outlets.
The State government has also decided that people should be allowed outdoors, between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. only to purchase essential items that are to be made available within a 3-km radius. Apart from fixing the prices of vegetables and essential foodstuff, the government has decided to take serious action against those indulged in hoarding or hiking prices.