Assam Police constables' food ration allowance to be hiked to Rs. 2,000: Finance Minister

Guwahati: In a latest move, the Assam government has decided to increase the ration allowance for the state's police constables from the existing Rs. 1200 to Rs. 2,000.

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, making the announcement at a presser in Guwahati, said, "Currently, the constables are getting a food allowance of Rs. 1,200 per month. From October 1 onwards, the monthly ration allowance of the constables shall be increased to Rs. 2,000."

The Minister opined that the increase in the ration allowance "will be of significant help" to the serving constables. "This was an election promise of our's, and all the jawans and constables will be pleased with the increment," he said.

Sarma also said that a similar benefit will also likely be extended to the forest police battalion. "We will also be making a similar announcement for the forest police battalion, provided we get an application from their side."

Sarma today also announced that the government has decided to change the home quarantine rules for air passengers arriving in the capital city of Guwahati. For air passengers, the 10 days mandatory quarantine has been done away with. Instead, the passengers will have to self-isolate until they receive their COVID-19 test results, which could take a maximum of 5 days.

Sarma informed that the norms in place for the home quarantine for air passengers shall henceforth be changed. From now onwards, the passengers have to get tested via both antigen and RT-PCR tests. If the result is negative, the incoming passengers need not go for home quarantine. However, if they do testing free of cost, they will have to self isolate for 3 days until the results are made available to them.

Sarma further informed that if air passengers require the RT-PCR result within 24 hours, they will have to pay a sum of Rs. 2,200. If, however, they are reluctant to pay the amount, they shall have to wait for a period of 3 days before they get their result.

"Thus, the time period for home quarantine will be reduced for the air passengers. At the most, they (passengers) will have to be in quarantine for a period of 5 days," Sarma said.

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