In a holistic developmental approach, the state government has taken some significant decisions to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS) and will start supply of different kinds of packet spices across 2050 ration shops at subsidized rates.

Earlier, the state government has announced to start subsidized mustard oil and other items through ration shops across the state.

Speaking with media persons after a review meeting of Food and Civil Supply department held at Food and Consumer Bhavan in Gurkhabasti area of Agartala on Sunday, the Food and Civil Supply Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that a Tripura based packet Spices Company ‘Longtarai’ has been awarded the distribution of packet spices including chilly, turmeric, cumin and coriander powders through 2050 ration shops across eights districts of the state.

He said that Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha will launch the services through a programme at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala on May 16 and will give packet spices to eight consumers of the eight districts.

He said that the government has taken many measures to supply subsidized food items to every household of the state through fair price shops and by strengthening the PDS soon, the government will start the supply of subsidized mustard oil through ration shops.

He said that Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha stressed on strengthening of PDS across the state to ensure supply of food items in every house-hold of the state on a regular basis.

He said that at present the state has 9, 59,455 ration cards and soon the department will modify all these cards into smart cards.  The Food department will also set up district wise infrastructure of the department and department has started distribution of fortified rice in Dhalai district from April and the department will start supplying fortified rice in other seven districts of the state.

At present, the state has 2050 ration shops and among these 290 are run by women and 167 run by cooperative societies, said Kumar and added that altogether 9,59,769 families have ration cards with a total consumer of 37,23,401 persons.

He said that the state at present have 3,55,439 APL ration cards and , priority household families have 4,92,485, ‘Antodhoy’ cards have 1,08,946,  1205 more families have ration cards(Priority group) under the scheme of Chief Minister  Tea workers welfare scheme.

During the review meeting, the secretary of Food department Ravel Hemendra Kumar, director Nirmal Adhikari, additional director Animesh Debbarma, director of ICA department Bimbisar Bhattacharjee , owner of Longtarai spices Ratan Debnath and other concerned officials.