Clearing all doubts over distribution of gift hamper containing one litre of mustard oil, one kg lentil, 2 kg flour, 1 kg sugar, 500 gram atta, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said government only distributing the canvas bag free of cost and other PDS items are being with subsidized prices.

Addressing a press conference at Civil Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury accompanied by the Secretary Raval Hemendra Kumar and Director of Food department Nirmal Adhikari said that the over the free distribution of canvas bag and subsidized food including  one litre of mustard oil, one kg lentil, 2 kg flour, 1 kg sugar, 500 gram atta, a section are spreading false narratives to distract the people of the state and defame the state government .

Highlighting the announcement of government over distribution of Mustard oil and other public distribution system (PDS) food item during the festivities in all 2,056 ration shops of the state, Chowdhury said that Food department never said that food item would be distributed free of cost, but as per PDS systems all item will be given to consumers are subsidized rates.

Slamming the negative politics of opposition parties (CPI(M) and Congress), Chaudhury said that instead of appreciating the efforts of present state government over distribution of mustard oil through ration shops in subsidized rate, they are spreading false news and running fake social media campaign to turnish  the images of the state government. He also appealed to the people of the state not to believe the negative campaigns of opposition parties.

He said that after the formation of the present government that the entire PDS has been strengthened and digitized to ensure consumers rights and many food items were introduced and people are not getting many items from ration shops including spices.

He said that for the first time, the Tripura government has been introducing 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. He added that packets of mustard oil are on their way to Agartala from Rajasthan and other parts and all ration card holders will get the same before Diwali festival.

The Minister said that the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha through a programme at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala launched  the special subsidized ‘gift hamper’ bag to all ration card holders on October 10 last  and Chief Minister has also given ex-gratia to labourers of Food department.

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 given the right supply of mustard oil.

Chowdhury said that all these items are being provided in a biodegradable canvas bag. Till now, 9.51 lakh bags have reached the state out of a total nine lakh bags required for the implementation of the scheme. At present, the state has 9.70 lakh ration card holders. Moreover, subsidized mustard oil will be provided to ration card holders four times in a year.