Assam to provide free rice, financial assistance to poor during Covid-19 lockdown

The Assam government on Monday announced special assistance to the state’s poor population hit by the lockdown imposed because of coronavirus spread in the country.

Updated on: Mar 31, 2020, 11:22:54 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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The Assam government on Monday announced special assistance to the state’s poor population hit by the lockdown imposed because of coronavirus spread in the country.

Locals buy vegetables, supplied by Assam Food Supply Department, during a nationwide lockdown, imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, at Ganeshguri in Guwahati, Saturday, March 28, 2020. (PTI photo)

In a cabinet meeting on Monday evening, the government decided to provide free rice from April 1 to 58 lakh families registered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)—i.e. ration cardholders.

The scheme would provide one-time financial assistance of Rs 1000 to those families in rural and urban areas who don’t have a ration card.

In rural areas, 100 families in areas with a population of around 5000, 150 families in areas with a population of between 5000 and 10,000 and 200 families in areas with a population of over 10,000 would get that financial assistance.

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In Guwahati, 250 families from each ward and 100 families from each ward in other municipalities and urban bodies would get financial assistance.

All families in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) and Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao autonomous districts who don’t have ration cards would also get Rs 1000 assistance.

Similarly, 278,000 labourers registered with the government would get the same amount as financial assistance.

From April 1, tea garden workers would be allowed to pluck leaves, few factories to start production and farmers to till their fields as long as they follow the guidelines issued by the health department.

All trucks carrying food items and animal fodder stuck at the state’s boundary with West Bengal will also be allowed to enter Assam from April 1.

Assam has not reported any case of Covid-19 till date.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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