Silchar: In a major welfare push, the Government of Assam has rolled out a new food security initiative to provide subsidized Masur Dal, Sugar, and Salt to all ration card-holding households across the state. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Silchar, by Junali Devi, ACS, Assistant Commissioner-cum-In-Charge Joint Director, Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Cachar.

Addressing the media, Junali Devi said the initiative, launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, aims to strengthen nutrition, ensure food security, and offer economic relief to over 2.45 crore beneficiaries across Assam, including 70 lakh ration card-holding families.

Under this new scheme, beneficiaries will receive Masur Dal, Sugar, and Salt every month at subsidized prices through Fair Price Shops, in addition to the free rice distributed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Each of the three essential commodities will be supplied in specially packed 1-kilogram packets.

Distribution will take place between the 1st and 10th of every month, coinciding with the observance of Anna Seva Din. However, for the inaugural month of November, the process will be conducted from the 10th to the 19th through the e-PoS system to ensure complete transparency and biometric authentication.

Fair Price Shop dealers will receive a commission of Rs.2 per kilogram, while cooperative societies involved in transportation and logistics will earn Rs.1.80 per kilogram.

Highlighting the government’s ongoing expansion of welfare coverage, Devi informed that over 60 lakh new beneficiaries were added to the Food Security Scheme during 2023–24 and 2024–25. An additional five lakh individuals will be brought under the scheme by January 2026 after full digitization.

She emphasized that ration card-holding families not only receive free rice but also enjoy up to ₹25 lakh in medical coverage under Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Assam, while women members benefit from the Orunodoi scheme.

Under the Assam-specific subsidy, ration card-holding households will now be able to buy Masur Dal at Rs 69 per kg, Sugar at Rs 38 per kg, and Salt at Rs.10 per kg. From January 2026, the prices will further drop to Rs.60, Rs.30, and Rs.10 respectively.

Devi also pointed out that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) introduced in November 2023 has brought a new level of transparency to the Public Distribution System. Assam now records 98 percent online transactions for free rice distribution, with doorstep delivery available for senior citizens and differently-abled beneficiaries.

“Through these transformative steps, the Assam Government has ensured that every citizen enjoys food security with dignity,” she said, calling for cooperation from Fair Price Shop dealers, GPSS, WCCS, LAMPS, and beneficiaries for the success of the initiative.

As part of the district-level rollout, ceremonial distribution events will be held across all 1,756 Fair Price Shops in Cachar, covering 3.88 lakh ration cards and benefiting more than 13 lakh NFSA beneficiaries.

Cachar Deputy Commissioner Mridul Yadav, IAS, will inaugurate the programme in Silchar LAC on November 10, while Additional District Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, and Block Development Officers will lead the rollout events in all seven LACs of the district.

The press meet concluded with an interactive session where media representatives lauded the proactive and transparent efforts of the Cachar District Administration and the Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Department in implementing this people-centric programme.

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