BY TC News Desk
Agartala, October 18, 2023: In light of the upcoming Durga Puja festivities, the Food minister Sushanta Chowdhury today addressed the public to dispel any misleading information surrounding the distribution of essential food items.
At a press conference held at the secretariat’s press conference hall, Minister Chowdhury revealed key details of a subsidy program aimed at providing sugar, dal, flour, semolina, and free canvas bags to consumers via the public distribution system.
Minister Chowdhury emphasized that, in response to false reports regarding these provisions, he urges the citizens of the state not to be misled by such news. He clarified that, as part of the Durga Puja celebrations, consumers can indeed access 1 kg of sugar, 1 kg of dal, 2 kg of flour, 500 gm of semolina, and 500 gm of flour at subsidized rates through 2,056 ration shops across the state. In addition to these food items, a complimentary canvas bag will also be distributed to consumers. The official launch of this program occurred on October 10 at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan here presided over by the Chief Minister.
Notably, those who have already procured the aforementioned food items from ration shops between October 1 and 9 will be eligible to collect the free canvas bag from their respective ration shops.
Minister Chowdhury also highlighted a significant milestone for the state, as the Food Department now introduces mustard oil into the public distribution system. Through a tender process, the department has selected Engine, Emami, and Longtrai companies to provide this essential item at a subsidized price of Rs 113 for consumers.
The Food Minister underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing the state’s public distribution system and revealed several initiatives undertaken since taking office. The digitalization of the public distribution system now allows authentic state residents to conveniently acquire their ration items from ration shops. Moreover, a plan to establish 600 model ration shops across the state is in motion.
As a gesture of support and in the spirit of the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, 635 workers from the Food Department have received a Puja grant of Rs 2,000 each. Food Department Director Nirmal Adhikari was also present at the press conference to address any additional inquiries.
