Eye on Assam Polls, Himanta Promises Free Distribution of Sugar, Pulses and Salt if BJP is Voted to Power

New Delhi: Ahead of the assembly elections, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday (January 7) said that if the BJP is voted to power for a third consecutive term, the government would distribute sugar, daal (pulses) and salt to ration card holders for free.

“Help the BJP-led government win in the upcoming elections... You will get daal, sugar and salt at your home without paying,” said Sarma while addressing a rally in Dhemaji, reported The Telegraph. He added that from January, ration card holders would get a kilogramme of daal, sugar and salt at Rs 100.

The move, which comes ahead of the state elections likely to be held in March-April is set to benefit 70 lakh families with ration cards in the state.

“Just see how much responsibility we are taking. You voted for us and we have reduced your worries (through welfare schemes),” Sarma added whiles peaking at the rally.

Since mid-September, Sarma has been holding rallies almost everyday with a special focus on welfare schemes for women such as the Lakhpati Didi scheme.

The state government’s schemes include a first installment of Rs 10,000 per woman as part of the Lakhpati Didi empowerment scheme and Rs 1,250 a month under the Orunodoi anti-poverty scheme, benefitting 38 lakh women in Assam.

For boys pursuing graduation and post-graduation, whose family's annual income is below Rs 4 lakh there is a financial assistance given by the state government while over 3.5 lakh girl students enrolled in classes XI and XII receive Rs 1,000 per month.

In the state where the BJP has been in power since 2016, Rs 1,250 per month is received by those enrolled in integrated teacher training programmes and undergraduate courses, and Rs 2,500 per month is given to those pursuing postgraduate studies, reported The Telegraph.

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