Assam PCC president Ripun Bora on Wednesday told chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal that only BJP workers and supporters have been included in the list of beneficiaries for the government’s relief measures in the state.
Bora shot off a letter to Sonowal with his concern about the plight of people during the lockdown imposed to check spread of novel coronavirus. Bora told Sonowal that people are yet to receive the 5kg rice and 1kg masoor dal promised by the Centre as relief material for the lockdown period.
He said the state government is yet to complete distribution of rice under National Food Security Act (NFSA) for March and April. “There are only a few days left for the lockdown to be over. But the relief materials meant for this period is yet to be given to the people,” Bora said. He said distribution of rice under NFSA is a regular affair and has no link with relief. “But some among the BJP have been telling people that the NFSA rice was given by the government to help them during lockdown period,” he said.
Bora reminded Sonowal of the Assam government’s announcements for the lockdown period, including release of Rs 2,000 for each farmer under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 500 for Jan Dhan beneficiaries, 5kg of rice and 1kg of masoor dal per person, in addition to NFSA rice, Rs 1,000 to those who do not have NFSA cards and are employed in informal sectors, including construction.
Bora told Sonowal that being unable to sell their farm produce, farmers are forced to dispose of it. “Despite our repeated requests to the government to buy the farm produce, no action has been taken so far. We again demand that the government help the farmers,” he said. Bora demanded that Sonowal announce an economic package for the state’s tea industry, which is one of the worst hit.
Assam PCC general secretary (organisation) Ranjan Bora said they have sent a list of number of families in six city wards who have not received relief material, to Chinnmoy Nath, additional deputy commissioner of Kamrup (metro) who is also in charge of the district disaster management. Bora told The Telegraph that members of these families who work as small-time shopkeepers, barbers, construction workers and such work are among the worst hit of the lockdown.
“These people neither have any earning during this lockdown period nor are they getting any relief material,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia also wrote to Sonowal on Wednesday intimating him about the condition of the poor during the lockdown.
Saikia highlighted how a section of the poor are not getting ration or financial assistance from the government.
