Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday launched the distribution of subsidized ‘gift hamper’ bags to all ration card holders of the state ahead of the festive season during a programme held at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala.

During the programme in presence of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Dipak Majumder and other officials of Food department, Chief Minister handed over the gift hamper bag r to 20 ration card holders contain with one litre of mustard oil, one kg lentil, 2 kg flour, 1 kg sugar and 500 gram atta.

Dr Saha handed over a cheque of Rs. 2000 of ex-gratia to two  labourers of Food department engaged in loading, unloading and other basic tasks and has also unveiled a booklet, ‘A Journey of Progress’, on safeguarding food security and consumer rights .

While addressing the gathering Dr Saha said that the state government has continued its endeavor to fulfill the basic recruitment of state’s people with protection of consumers’ rights by controlling the prices of essential commodities in markets. The government committed to provide essential food items to all people of the state through a public distribution system (PDS) and by strengthening the system, now government started distribution of mustard oil by fulfilling its pre-poll commitments, said Dr Saha.

“The Narendra Modi government has been trying to maintain transparency on all fronts and the state government is also doing the same. The distribution of the gift hamper is aimed at checking price rise ahead of Durga Puja festival”, Dr Saha said.

Predicting that the state’s future is bright, the Chief Minister said entrepreneurs are showing interest in investing in the northeastern state because of its future potential. “Many entrepreneurs are planning to invest in the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in South Tripura’s Sabroom subdivision close to Bangladesh. Once the Maitri Setu becomes operational, businessmen can easily use Chittagong port in Bangladesh,” he said.

Speaking in the programme, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said this for the first time, the Tripura government has introduced subsidized mustard oil in all ration shops across the state. Chowdhury said that before last assembly elections, they had committed the people to give subsidized mustard oil in all ration and now, the government has fulfilled the commitment, which will be sold at a special price of Rs 113 per litre.

Earlier, it was decided that the ration shops would sell mustard oil at Rs 128 per litre but the department later provided an additional Rs 15 subsidy for per litre. Three renowned brands of mustard oil including the Engine, Emami and state’s brand Longtharai have started the supply of mustard oil for all ration card holders.

Chowdhury said that all these items will be provided in a biodegradable canvas bag for all 9.70 lakh ration card holders and the subsidized mustard oil will be provided to ration card holders four times in a year.

He said that as per the directive of the central government, all ration shops in the state will be given a makeover and turned into model ration shops. In the first phase, 600 out of a total of 2,056 shops in eight districts will be transformed into model ration shops. The Food department will give Rs 5,000 to each ration shop owner from the department's own cash credit for their facelift.  Chowdhury also said  all 635 labourers engaged in loading, unloading and other basic tasks under the Food and Civil Supplies department will be given an ex gratia amount of Rs 2,000 this year.

Chowdhury asked the ration dealers to complete distribution of the bags by next week. The Food and Civil Supplies department will spend Rs 3.98 crore for the project, he added.