Bodoland Territorial Council chief and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) president Hagrama Mohilary on Wednesday announced free ration, masks and hand sanitisers for 5.5 lakh families in Kokrakhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri districts.

Mohilary hailed the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a 21-day nationwide lockdown and also made a fervent appeal to residents of the Bodo belt to adhere to the guidelines to prevent the outbreak of novel coronavirus.

Mohillary said his government would provide free ration to 5.5 lakh families out of 9,64,300 lakh in the Bodo belt in the first phase. The package would include 25kg rice, 2kg pulses, 500ml mustard oil and packets of table salt. Around 10 lakh masks and hand sanitisers will be also distributed in the coming days, he added.

“Taking into cognisance the fact that there are scores of families belonging to the working class who live hand-to-mouth in the Bodo belt, we have decided to provide the items door-to-door from Thursday,” Mohilary said.

The announcement comes at a time the model code of conduct was in force ahead of the BTC polls, which was scheduled to be held on April 4, but was deferred.

United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) president Pramod Boro termed it a clear violation of the model code of conduct. “I have just seen BPF President Shri Hagrama Mohilary, and one of the candidate in Debargaon and Kachugaon Constituency, openly announcing several sops especially rations to support families in BTR during lockdown to deal with Covid-19 pandemic. This is clear violation of model code of conduct. We are not against support to the poor families during the lockdown, but these distribution has to be done by Civil Administration not by a political party when the Code of Conduct is on. If all the political parties start distributing ration it will only lead to chaos and will defeat the purpose of the nationwide lockdown. Election Commissioner of Assam, please take appropriate legal action against this unlawful announcement,” Boro posted on Facebook.

There are many who welcomed Mohilary’s announcement and termed it a goodwill gesture. “My husband, a daily wage-earner, is the sole breadwinner of our family. He works at a shop selling schoolbags but the lockdown has brought dark clouds over us. If the BPF helps us survive by providing free ration, we will be forever grateful to them,” said Udalguri resident Khadeza Begum, a mother of two.