Assam to launch Food Security scheme

Assam government on Tuesday said it would roll out Food Security scheme from November to cover about 2.25 crore people in the state. "We will roll out Food Security scheme from November 19. In Assam, about 2.25 crore people from around 40 lakh families will benefit from the scheme," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters in Guwahati. The government will announce the names of the beneficiaries on August 1 and all the disputes regarding inclusion and exclusion of families will be completed by October 2, he added. "From the rural areas, around 75 per cent of the people will get the benefit, while it will be about 50 per cent in urban locations," Gogoi said. The Chief Minister further said to monitor proper implementation of the scheme, the government has formed a Group of Ministers. As per the scheme, rice will be available at Rs 3 per kg, while wheat and coarse cereals will be offered at Rs 2 and Re 1 respectively for each kg, he added. Earlier this month, brushing aside political opposition, Centre decided to issue an ordinance to give nation's two-third population the right to get 5 kg of foodgrain every month at subsidised rates of Rs 1-3 per kg. The food security programme when implemented will be the biggest in the world with the government spending estimated at Rs 1,25,000 crore annually on supply of about 62 million tonnes of rice, wheat and coarse cereals to 67 per cent of the population. On rising prices of food items on the state, Gogoi said, "Only onion and vegetables are little expensive at the moment. Usually during this period vegetables get costly as production goes down in monsoon." The farmers are also getting more value on their produce but there is still a room for further improvement, he added. In the last few weeks, the government has issued price lists of various food items like vegetables, fish and chicken. "We are taking steps to increase the production. We are planning to do market intervention in the form of setting up cooperatives and giving transport subsidy to farmers among others," he added. On the monsoon scenario, Gogoi said the present condition is not very bad as there is only 11 per cent deficiency in the total rainfall in the state. Asked about his comments on recently passed anti-tobacco Bill by the state assembly, Gogoi said the government is very serious about implementation of the Act. "We are also thinking to announce a special package for the hospitals at Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Silchar for cancer treatment. Assam is witnessing a rapid rise in cancer patients," he added.