Assam re-launches red lentil, sugar scheme

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday re-launched the State’s subsidised masoor dal and sugar distribution scheme for National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries at Raha in Nagaon district. The initiative is set to benefit over 2.48 crore individuals across nearly 70 lakh families in the State. 

Under the revived welfare initiative, masoor dal will be made available at `70 per kg, while sugar will be provided at `30 per kg through fair price shops. The scheme, which had been temporarily suspended for two months owing to the Vote on Account budget, was formally restarted at a modest function held at a fair price shop in Kamarjan village under the Raha assembly constituency.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister emphasised that the supply of essential commodities at subsidised rates alongside free rice under the ‘Anna Sewa Saptah’ will play a vital role in ensuring nutritional security for poor households.

Sarma stated that the distribution programme had been kept modest due to the prevailing severe flood situation in Upper Assam. Assuring that welfare initiatives were regaining momentum as flood conditions gradually improved, he noted that key public schemes like Orunodoi, Chief Minister’s Nijut Moina, and Nijut Babu were also systematically restarted following the passage of the state budget in July. Highlighting upcoming welfare steps, the Chief Minister announced that salt would also be provided at subsidised rates within a few days once technical constraints are resolved.

He further revealed that the State Government is actively taking steps to fulfil its election promise of providing mustard oil at subsidised prices, besides initiating measures to cover eligible families previously left out of the Orunodoi scheme.

The coverage under the distribution scheme includes 15,83,080 beneficiaries across 3,85,299 families in Nagaon district alone, while 2.36 lakh individuals belonging to 61,614 families in the Raha constituency will benefit from the programme. Expressing his gratitude to cooperative societies and fair price shops for executing the supply chain, Dr Sarma also promised significant developmental projects for the Raha constituency over the next five years.

The re-launch event was attended by Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika, Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai, along with MLAs Sashikanta Das, Rupak Sarma, and Jitu Goswami.