No.733/2019-2020

Aizawl, the 25th March 2020 : In the wave of COVID-19 pandemic and the confirmation of a positive case in Mizoram, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Pu K.Lalrinliana today in a televised message this evening reassured the people of Mizoram of the Government’s commitment to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities in the state. He appealed to people not to stockpile essential commodities and buy only what they require on a need basis. He also appealed shop owners not to increase prices of goods.

The Minister mentioned that PDS rations for April would be distributed towards the end of March to help people tide over this crucial time. AAY and Priority Household Card Holders (Yellow and Red Cards) would be given PDS rice free of cost. He said that the government was aware of economically weak among APL Card Holders (White card) and assured that the government would think about how to help them. The Labour Cess collected by Labour, Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department would be used to make provision of supply of rations free of cost for the above categories, he added. He asked Local Task Forces on COVID-19 to identify such needy people.

He remarked that the government has adequate stock of rice and other essential commodities for some time and quoted the Government guidelines on exemption of vehicles engaged in the carriage and supply of essential commodities in this regard. He appealed people to judiciously use all resources since the situation is an evolving one, which is difficult to predict, he said. He hoped that with the people cooperating and obeying government directives and orders, these testing times will pass.