Sonowal directs Assam Food department to take measures for price stabilization of essential commodities
Guwahati, Mar 14 (IBNS): With a view to ensure stabilization of prices of essential commodities and generating greater consumer awareness, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday directed the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to prepare a road map and take up comprehensive measures.
While reviewing the activities of the department in a meeting, which was held at the conference hall of his office at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati, Sonowal directed the department to keep a stock of essential items including perishable items like potato and onion for public distribution to meet up shortage during emergency situations.
He asked the department to make an assessment of requirement of perishable items mostly during monsoon period and tie up with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NEFED) for procurement of the same.
Sonowal also directed the department to take up steps for setting up cold storages under PPP mode in the state. Significantly, a provision of Rs 50 crore has been made in the current budget to meet any emergency situation.
The Assam Chief Minister emphasised on generating more awareness among consumers and inform them about comparative prices of essential items available in the country through different mass media including digital medium.
He observed that sharing information on prices of commodities and its comparative information through different media platforms with consumers will boost public confidence in the department.
Sonowal instructed the department to make the presence of its officials felt in the field and ensuring strict monitoring of prices of essential commodities.
Moreover, underscoring the need for taking up more innovative measures by the department, Assam CM Sonowal directed to implement ‘Amar Dukan on Wheel’ in all the 97 towns of the state on a priority basis simultaneously and promote digital payment in their transactions.
Sonowal also appreciated the department on the implementation of Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in the state under which subsidised LPG connections have been provided to 9.18 lakh households during 2017-18. Under the scheme, a target is set to provide subsidised connection to 30 lakh households in the state.
He also lauded the initiative proposed by the department to set up Food and Civil Supplies Corporation on pilot basis in few of the districts of the state, which is expected to play a crucial role in stabilizing prices of essential commodities.
F&CS and Consumer Affairs Minister Rihon Daimary, Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta, Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami, Legal Adviser Santanu Bharali, Additional Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, CM’s Principal Secretary Sanjay Lohia and several other senior officials of the department were present in the meeting.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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