The Assam government has decided to provide free rice to 1.58 lakh families under the National Food Security (NFS) Scheme from April 1.
It was decided in a meeting of the Assam council of ministers at Dispur on Monday evening.
The meeting was presided over by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
The scheme will also cover poor families who do not have NFS cards and they will be given Rs 1000 each.
The people of BTAD, Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will also be benefited from the scheme.
The trucks carrying essentials will be allowed to enter the State from April 1.
In view of possibility of floods, construction and repair of embankments will start from April 1.
The meeting also decided to allow the tea gardens plucking of green leaves from April 1 but they will have to follow the guidelines issued by the deputy commissioners and health department.
Similarly, rice mills, biscuit factories, etc., will also be allowed to be open subject to permission of the deputy commissioners.
The deputy commissioners will fix the timings of keeping grocery shops open from April 1.
From the same date farmers will also be allowed to carry on with their work by following the guidelines of the health department.