The Assam government on Monday announced the expansion of the Anna Seva Yojana (Anna Seva Yojana) to provide three essential food items, namely pulses, sugar, and salt, at subsidized rates. This scheme will benefit approximately 7 million families covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The scheme was formally launched at 33,000 fair price shops across the state, where special meetings were held with the participation of beneficiaries, ministers, MLAs, and officials.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Central Launch Program
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presided over the central launch program held at the Srimanta Sankardev Kala Kshetra in Guwahati. He said this initiative reaffirms the government’s commitment to “compassionate development.” The Chief Minister informed that pulses, sugar, and salt will now be available to every ration cardholder family at subsidized rates. Under the scheme, 1 kg of pulses will be provided at the rate of Rs. 69, sugar at Rs. 38, and salt at Rs. 10 per month, totaling Rs. 117 per family. At the same time, this combined price will be reduced to Rs 100 per month from January 1.
LPG Subsidy and Direct Benefit Transfer
The Chief Minister also announced that measures are being taken to provide relief in the price of LPG gas for poor families. He explained that the price of gas for Ujala cardholders is Rs 550, while without a card it reaches Rs 950-1000. To make this easier, the government will directly deposit Rs 250 into beneficiaries’ accounts. On this occasion, the Chief Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reforms, highlighting the importance of the traditional welfare distribution system and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). He said, “When Modi ji made bank accounts mandatory, many people were perplexed, but when the poor started receiving gas subsidies and COVID relief directly into their accounts, his foresight was realized.”
Promises to further strengthen schemes in the future
Highlighting improvements compared to previous governments, Sarma said that in the first few years, items like dhotis, blankets, and sheets were distributed, but they didn’t provide long-term benefits. He said, “Earlier, people had to attend meetings and fight over who would get what. Today, every penny reaches the poor directly.” Finally, the Chief Minister promised that his government would further strengthen household welfare schemes. He said, “We have given you rice, lentils, sugar, salt, orunodai, and nijut moina. Next time, if you make us win, we will also give you 1 liter of mustard oil. Then every household’s worries will end.”
