Assam Restarts Subsidized Lentil and Sugar for 2.48 Crore People

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has officially restarted the state government scheme to provide subsidized red lentils and sugar to residents holding National Food Security Act ration cards. The program was recently paused for two months because of the Vote on Account budget process and has now resumed distribution across the state.

Details of the subsidized food scheme

Under this welfare initiative, eligible families can buy a monthly kit containing 1 kg of Masur Dal and 1 kg of sugar. The cost for these items is set at ₹70 for the lentils and ₹30 for the sugar, making the total price ₹100 per family. The program is designed to support over 70 lakh families, which includes approximately 2.48 crore people across Assam. These food items will be made available for purchase through local Fair Price Shops.

Distribution and reach of the initiative

To begin the process immediately, the government has already sent 70 lakh kilograms of both sugar and dal to Fair Price Shops in every district. The distribution of these subsidized items will happen at the same time as the monthly free rice provided under the Anna Sewa scheme. In the Nagaon district alone, the initiative covers more than 15 lakh beneficiaries spread across nearly 4 lakh families.

Future plans for food security

The state government has stated that this distribution is part of a larger effort to improve food security for low-income households. Officials have announced plans to add subsidized mustard oil and salt to the monthly food basket in the future. This relaunch aims to ensure that essential food items remain affordable and accessible for all eligible ration card holders in the state.