With a view to provide succour to the poor people during lockdown period, Assam government has decided to provide 5 kg rice per month per member per family, who do not have ration cards.
The rice will be provided under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
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Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said this while reviewing preparedness of Kamrup district administration to deal with COVID19 pandemic in a meeting held at the conference room of the deputy commissioner’s office at Amingaon on Monday.
To take stock of availability of foodgrains in the state, the chief minister visited Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns located at Noonmati, Changsari as well as Changsari Railway Yard on Monday and held a meeting with FCI officials at Noonmati.
The FCI officials informed the chief minister that the present stock available at FCI godowns could fulfilfood grain demand of people of the state for next two-and-a-half months.
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Chief minister Sonowal while chairing the review meeting at the Kamrup DC office asked the district administration, government departments and the public representatives to put collective efforts to tide over the challenge posed by coronavirus outbreak.
He directed the agriculture and veterinary departments to work in close coordination with food and civil supplies department to devise innovative strategy to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities.
Sonowal also asked the officials of F&CS department to regularly interact with wholesalers to check price rise of essential goods.
Further stating that the government would not tolerate any misappropriation of public fund and food grains meant for the poor, the chief minister asked the police to take prompt action against all unscrupulous elements.
He also directed the police to act swiftly against misuse of social media so that no one can spread rumour and incite violence disturbing peace and harmony in society.
Underlining the importance of strict adherence to social distancing in all walks of life to defeat coronavirus pandemic, Sonowal directed the officials of agriculture department to see that farmers maintain this norm while carrying out farm activities.
The chief minister also asked them to regularly interact with farmers and motivate them to take up farming in an expeditious manner.
The chief minister further advocating door-to-door delivery of vegetables, egg, fish and meat, and instructed the agriculture, veterinary, supply and fishery departments to prepare a roadmap and take help of NSS, NYK and SHGs in this regard.
He also asked the transport department to ensure proper hygiene of workers engaged in loading and unloading of goods at FCI godowns and provide them face masks.
Sonowal also highlighted the role of public representatives at this hour of distress.
He urged the MLAs present in the review meeting to guide the government machinery in maintaining an uninterrupted supply chain of essential commodities and bring to notice any anomaly observed by them in this regard for prompt corrective action.
He also directed the Kamrup DC to regularly convene review meetings with all emergency departments in presence of MLAs to give more teeth to the administration in its fight against COVID19.
Chief minister Sonowal also appreciated health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, minister of state for health Pijush Hazarika, doctors, nurses, officials of health and other departments for their role in the fight against COVID19.