GUWAHATI: The Arunachal Pradesh government has clarified that there is sufficient stock of rice available in every district of the state to last at least three months.
“Since the lockdown, Indian Air Force has carried out multiple sorties of AN-32 and helicopters for lifting rice to remote locations in Arunachal Pradesh. The state government has also used its helicopters for the said purpose,” an official statement said here on Tuesday.
The clarification comes in the wake of a section of the media reporting about a recent video (which went viral on social networking sites), of a group of people posing with the remains of a King Cobra that they illegally hunted for consuming, alleging that there was no rice left to eat because of the current situation of lockdown in Arunachal Pradesh.
“Food Corporation of India has also provided more than 1000 metric tonnes (MT) of rice for open market sales in various districts. Besides, the government of India allocated more than 12,000 metric tonnes of food grains under Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to Arunachal Pradesh,” the statement said.
“More than 8000 MT of rice is being distributed across the state to provide food to the people under PMGKAY. The state has also created a buffer stock of 100 MT of potato and 60MT of pulses which can be released in the market as and when required,” it added.
The state is also providing free ration to those whose livelihood has been impacted owing to the lockdown. Around 20,000 persons have received free ration in various districts of Arunachal Pradesh since lockdown was announced.
“All officials are available round the clock for any kind of clarification on COVID-19 related issues,” it said.