Food Security Ordinance to cover 2.52 cr people in Assam

Assam government today said that the Food Security Ordinance, 2013, to be implemented in the state soon, will cover a population of 2.52 crore belonging to 52 lakh families.
"The state government has intensified preparation to cover 84 per cent population of rural areas and 60 per cent of urban areas in the state under this scheme," state minister of Food and Civil Supply Nazrul Islam said while addressing an awareness meeting organised by Nalbari District Congress committee here.
Islam said that at present 39,60,000 families in the state have been getting rice at subsidised rate under various schemes.
He, however, pointed out that though foodgrain production had gone up but there was lack of equitable distribution for which the government has been compelled to introduce this new act only in the interest of the poorer section.

The state government under its Chief Ministers' Anna Surakshya Yojana provided rice at Rs 6 rate to 20 lakh BPL families.
In the implementation of this scheme, 65 cases were registered at Gauhati High Court but later all the cases were disposed off in favour of government, the minister stated.