National Food Security Act card holders to get 1 kg pulses for three months

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State government will be providing 1 kg Masoor dal free of cost to each family having the National Food Security Act (NFSA) card for three months till June. This is the first time that pulses will be given to such beneficiaries. The distribution will commence from this week in a phased manner. The pulses to be made available by NAFED (National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation) will be distributed by the Food & Civil Supplies Department through the PDS (public Distribution System) outlets.

Talking to The Sentinel, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Phani Bhushan Choudhury said, “Since the masses are facing problems during the lockdown phase, the government has decided to supply fee of cost Masoor dal to around 58 lakh beneficiaries under NFSA.

He added, “From April, we’ve been supplying rice free of cost to the NFSA beneficiaries. As per rule, each card holder should pay Rs 3 per kg. Presently, this cost is being borne by the Assam government. Monthly, this expenditure comes to Rs 41 crore.”

Meanwhile, the Revenue & Disaster Management Department on Tuesday released Rs 49.27 crore to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of 33 districts of the State to procure rice for free distribution among the 44,79, 215 people not having NFSA cards. The money has been released from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

Earlier, the Department had released Rs 70 crore, also under SDRF, to the DCs and the SDOs (Civil) of the State for the battle against coronavirus. This fund is being used for extending various kinds of relief materials to the needy people, sanitization of areas, and meeting the costs for quarantining people. With respect to the districts covering large areas, funding up to Rs 1.50 crore has been extended. The district and sub-division administrations have been also asked to communicate with the Department if any additional funds are required.

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