Assam signalled a sharper push towards welfare-driven price stabilisation on Monday as the state government unveiled a subsidised food initiative under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), promising cheaper essentials for ration card holders at all fair price shops.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma rolled out the scheme in Guwahati, describing it as an effort to strengthen household food budgets at a time when the Centre and several states have been emphasising improved nutritional access through the public distribution system.
“Masur Dal: Rs 69 per kg, Sugar: Rs 38 per kg, Salt: Rs 10 per kg. Is it possible? Yes in Assam it is!” Sarma declared in a post on X after launching the scheme at a state-level event.
He said that from Monday, “for the first time across all fair price shops”, lentils, sugar and salt would be made available at rates significantly below prevailing market prices.
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The Chief Minister framed the initiative as part of the government’s broader commitment to uplift the most economically vulnerable households. “Antyodaya is our aim, objective and mission,” he said.
In a further announcement, Sarma told beneficiaries that the pricing structure would become even more affordable from January. “There is more GOOD News: From January, Rs 100 will equal to 1 kg Dal + 1 kg Sugar + 1 kg Salt. With this we have set a new benchmark in nutritional security for ration card holders,” he asserted.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the scheme has been structured under the NFSA, which already covers a majority of Assam’s population through subsidised rice entitlements. Nearly 33,000 fair price shops across the state held special launch meetings, attended by ministers, MLAs, Panchayat representatives and ration card beneficiaries.
Officials said the state has strengthened its supply chain arrangements over the past year to minimise fluctuations in essential commodity prices, particularly in rural and flood-prone districts. The new intervention is expected to supplement existing PDS provisions by offering additional items at discounted rates, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket household expenses on basic nutrition.
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