Dispur: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after a detailed review of the operational status of the National Food Security Act directed the Food & Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department to take steps for withdrawal of ration cards from all ineligible beneficiaries above the poverty line.
He also asked the department to amend rules to ensure Rs 143 to every fair price shop as transportation charge for each quintal of ration. Further saying that from now onwards, the FCS&CA Department will be allocated funds from the Budget for providing to all village panchayat cooperative societies, the Chief Minister observed that such steps would significantly benefit the poor people.
Sarma also stressed minimizing the transportation costs of essential commodities and said that from now onwards the cooperative societies will have to play the role of supervisors to ensure proper implementation of NFSA.
The Chief Minister also directed to rationalize the number of fair price shops according to the number of ration cardholders.