JORHAT, April 3 - The North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), an NGO based at Dhekiakhowa on the outskirts of Jorhat, distributed relief materials to several poor families who are facing difficulties in view of the lockdown.
The NGO, with financial support from Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Swiss-based foundation, distributed dry ration kits and hygiene-promotion support materials among 50 poor families in villages and tea gardens. Pulses, potato, onion, atta, mustard oil, soya, salt, turmeric, biscuits, bathing and detergents were distributed.
NEADS said its aim was to address the needs of the most vulnerable people living in the floodplains, distant areas, river islands, tea worker families and tribal communities who are already living with a range of other vulnerability.
Dhubri Correspondent adds: Many organisations, youth wings and student bodies of Dhubri district have came forward to help the poor people by distributing relief materials during the lockdown.
Police, along with their regular duties, has also been distributing relief materials to the poor and needy. �We have been distributing relief materials in the entire district. Police officials have been carrying these materials in their patrol vehicles, and wherever they see needy people, they are distributing it to them,� said a top police official. He added that police was raising fund for the relief materials from police personnel only.
Youths of Dhubri also distributed relief materials to hundreds of poor families. Members of Seemanta Chetana Mancha Purvottar along with their national co-coordinator Mananiya Pradeepan distributed food items at different places of Dhubri town. The Jain Samaj and Dhubri Municipal Board on Friday fed stray dogs and cattle.
Biswanath Chariali Correspondent adds: State Minister Ranjit Dutta, Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika and Gohpur MLA Utpal Borah distributed rations to daily-wage labourers of tea gardens and poor people.
Dutta distributed rations among the needy at several places in his home constituency of Behali, while Hazarika distributed ration at tea gardens at Dikorai Tea Estate, Gelahatinga, New Monai, Monai and Diplonga, located at Itakhola in Biswanath district. Each packet contained 5 kg rice, 1 kg dal, 1 kg potato and 1 kg onion. Hazarika called upon the labourers to follow the norms of the lockdown and maintain social distancing. Borah also distributed rations among poor people who do not possess ration cards at various places of Gohpur constituency including Takaubari, Halem, Kalabari, Gohpur, etc.
ANN Service adds from Gossaigaon: The Assistant Director of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Gossaigaon, has directed agents to distribute free rice to holders of Priority Household Cards and Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Each family card holder has been allotted 4 kg rice under both the schemes.
Under the Priority Household Cards category, there are 3,10,417 people and 14,490.25 quintals of rice has been allotted, while under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, there are 43,623 people for whom 2,080.55 quintals of rice has been allotted for free distribution. The distribution to people from lower income groups and daily-wage earners started on April 2 through the agents.