HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Aug 3: Assam Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai on Sunday reviewed the progress of schemes under his department in Kokrajhar during a visit to the Bodoland Territorial Region.
The minister attended a Fair Price Shop (FPS) Sammelan and awareness meeting organised by the FPD&CA Department of Bodoland Territorial Council at the Bodofa Cultural Complex, Chandamari, to brief stakeholders about the new subsidised ration scheme to be launched from October.
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Addressing FPS vendors and cooperative societies, Rai informed that ration card holders will be provided masoor dal, sugar and salt at heavily subsidised rates of Rs 69, Rs 38 and Rs 10 per kg per month respectively under the initiative led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The scheme will be introduced in two phases across the state—initially in 10 districts from October, followed by the remaining 25 including Kokrajhar in November.
NAFED has been engaged as the supplier, with Assam State Warehousing Corporation and Gaon Panchayat-Level Cooperative Societies to handle delivery up to fair price shops.
FPS owners will be required to display commodity prices at their premises and are barred from selling the subsidised items in the open market, the minister said.
MLA Lawrence Islary called for strict village-level monitoring to ensure benefits reach all eligible NFSA families, while Kokrajhar DC Masanda M Pertin stressed coordinated implementation.
Later, Rai chaired a district-level review meeting at the DC’s office to assess time-bound activities of the department and streamline the public distribution system ahead of the scheme’s rollout.
Senior officials including ADC Wadiul Islam, BTC Joint Secretary (FPD&CA) Ractim Buragohain and CHD Madan Talukdar were also present.
