Take care of needy people, CM Sarbananda Sonowal tells Chirang district administration

Our Correspondent

Kokrajhar: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday asked Chirang district administration to take all necessary measures to help the poor people who were suffering due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown.

Sonowal visited Chirang on Wednesday and reviewed the situation in the district. He also held meeting at the DC's conference hall with all departmental heads. The meeting was also attended by local MLA Kamalsingh Narzary, MLA Bimal Bora, BTC Principal Secretary Robinson Mashahary, DIG, BTC, Violet Baruah, IGP, BTC, Anurag Agarwal and other high-level officials.

Later, talking to mediapersons, Sonowal said the people of Assam were following the guidelines of the Centre to remain indoors during the ongoing lockdown. He said that social distancing was the only way to prevent the dreaded virus and people must maintain social distancing as no cure for the viral disease had been found as yet. He called upon the people of the State not to violate the lockdown rules.

"Many students, labourers and patients are stranded in different cities of the country and I have already talked to my counterparts in different States to ensure their safety and to provide them food," he said, adding that the State Government has provided financial aid to 86,000 stranded people of Assam and over 400 cancer patients. He also said that the State Government would take all necessary measures to bring them back home and provide jobs in different sectors.

The Chief Minister said that the government had given some relaxation to farmers, tea garden labourers and some essential sectors but there would be no compromise on social distancing. He also said that doctors were dedicating their lives to fight against this deadly disease and he called upon all to come together in this fight against the pandemic.

Sonowal asked the Food and Civil Supplies department to ensure sufficient stock of food items. He also asked the agricultural department to ensure data collection of the loss of agriculture products and to extend support to farmers. He further asked the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department to ensure livelihood through livestock.

When asked if prices of essential commodities would go up due to hike in prices of petrol and diesel, Sonowal said his government had assured the people of the State that there would not be any hike in prices of essential commodities, especially during the lockdown period.

Immediately after the Chief Minister left, ministers Atul Bora and Phani Bhusan Choudhury also visited Chirang and held a meeting with the district administration on the stock of essential commodities.

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