In the wake of devastating floods that recently ravaged Tripura, the state government has announced a special relief package for 9.83 lakh ration cardholder families. Chief Minister Manik Saha declared on Friday that the government would provide free flour, sugar, and semolina to these families ahead of the Durga Puja festival.
In a series of social media posts, Chief Minister Saha outlined that each family would receive two kilograms of flour, one kilogram of sugar, and 500 grams of semolina through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The initiative comes as a response to the catastrophic floods that struck the state last month, displacing thousands of families and killing at least 36 people. Previously, these essential food items were sold at subsidized rates, but this time, they will be distributed free of cost due to the severity of the disaster.
“In view of the upcoming Sharadotsav (Durga Puja), the state government has decided to provide free flour, sugar, and semolina to people across the state. These three items will be distributed at no charge,” the Chief Minister stated.
*Government Allocates ₹6.84 Crore for Relief*
Tripura’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Sushanta Chowdhury, elaborated on the state’s plan, stating that the government has allocated ₹6.84 crore for this relief effort. A total of 492 metric tonnes (MT) of semolina, 1,968 MT of flour, and 984 MT of sugar will be distributed free of charge. This move is part of broader relief measures aimed at supporting flood-hit families.
Chowdhury, who also serves as the state’s spokesperson, noted that the government had already distributed 10 kg of rice per ration cardholder for two consecutive months to ensure food security for the homeless and flood-affected population.
In addition to the free ration initiative, the Tripura government has also decided to replace the existing paper ration cards with PVC cards starting September 30. This change is aimed at modernizing the distribution system and ensuring greater efficiency.
The state cabinet, under Chief Minister Saha’s leadership, also approved the direct recruitment of 1,265 posts in various government departments, including Police, Forest, Education, and Revenue, to bolster the administration’s capabilities during these challenging times.
The free ration distribution will provide essential support to the flood-affected families ahead of Durga Puja, ensuring they can celebrate the festival amid difficult circumstances.
