In a major step toward strengthening food and nutritional security, the Dibrugarh district administration has announced new provisions for families holding ration cards. The initiative aims to make essential food items more accessible and affordable to all beneficiaries, ensuring that no family is left behind in the state’s mission for food sufficiency and improved nutrition. According to the directive issued by the District Commissioner Bikram Kairi, the government will continue providing free rice to ration card-holding families. Additionally, each family will be entitled to receive moong dal, sugar, and salt every month at subsidized rates.
Each family will receive one kilogram of rice for free each month, moong dal for Rs 69 per kilogram (to be reduced to Rs 60 per kilogram starting in January 2026), sugar for Rs 38 per kilogram (to be reduced to Rs 30 per kilogram starting in January 2026), and salt for Rs 10 per kilogram (unchanged). To ensure consistency and convenience of distribution, the products will be offered in standard 1 kg packaging. A tiny profit margin has been given to local vendors and cooperative organizations in order to promote openness and involvement at the local level. Shopkeepers receive Rs 2 per kilogram, while village panchayats and cooperatives receive Rs 1.80 per kg.
The government has launched an online system to enhance benefit collection and distribution, requiring beneficiaries to authenticate via mobile or biometric machines linked to ration cards. This initiative aims to eliminate duplication and ensure fairness, with implementations across all villages starting November 10. District Commissioner Bikram Kairi encouraged all families with ration cards to visit fair price shops to access their benefits, supported by a district helpline. Approximately 15,320 Fair Price Shop benefits will be distributed. The Assam Chief Minister will inaugurate the Fair Price Shop Digitization Drive on November 10, marking a crucial step in modernizing the Public Distribution System in Assam.