Assam Cabinet adopts SOP for NFSA rice, approves funds for projects

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Cabinet approved funds for several infrastructure projects and adopted an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for the distribution of rice under the NFSA (National Food Security Act) at its 101st meeting today. The Chief Minister chaired the meeting, which took several other decisions.

Speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said, "Chairaideo Maidam has already got nomination for a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Prime Minister himself took the initiative for the nomination. It is the lone nomination from India. A UNESCO team will visit Charaideo Maidam in October this year. Today's cabinet meeting discussed ways and means to be successful in the first attempt at UNESCO Heritage status. The meeting also had a detailed discussion over floods. The damage due to floods this year is less than that of last year. So far, the deluge has damaged five embankments in the Water Resources Department. However, there is more damage from P&RD dykes."

The projects and administrative approval of funds given by the Cabinet against them are: Rs 110.98 crore for the new Guwahati Police Commissionerate; Rs 605.95 crore for the police reserve campus in Guwahati; Rs 158.81 crore for the freedom fighter park at Jorhat Jail; Rs 214.96 crore for the development of Lachit Maidam Cultural Complex at Lahdoigarh in the Jorhat district; Rs 114.22 crore for the development of Batadrava Than in the Nagaon district; and Rs 155.75 crore for the development of Alaboi Ron Smriti Khetra in the Kamrup district.

The minister said, "The work on some of these projects is going on, and some have just started. We needed additional funds for some of the projects, and the Cabinet gave their approval today."

The minister further said, "We distribute rice free of charge under the NFSA to people who have ration cards. There were confusions over when, in every month, such rice has to be distributed. There were complaints from beneficiaries over the delay in the distribution of rice. Now the distribution of rice will be in accordance with the SOP approved today. From now on, the transports will have to lift the rice from FCI between 1 and 9 of every month and supply it to the fair price shops that will distribute the rice from 10 to 16 of the month. This week (10th to 16th) will be observed as Anna Seva Sapta."

The Cabinet approved new rules for nursing, pharmacy, and allied health educational institutions for the establishment of institutions under them, empowering the Tai Ahom Welfare Society, Assam, to recommend the issuance of OBC and MOBC certificates, etc. In sync with the delimitation exercise, PWD will create a sub-division in each of the 126 LACs. The Cabinet also approved a few other divisions of the PWD. The Cabinet also discussed Project Arohan. Under this project, students from ten districts will come to Guwahati in September or October this year for mentorship programmes.

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