Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to hold a review meeting with Minister-in-charge of the respective districts on the implementation of lockdown guidelines and maintenance of social distancing norms once every three days. The Chief Minister directed this while taking stock of KOVID-19 preparedness of Kamrup (Metropolitan) district in a meeting held at DC office, Kamrup (Metro) today.

Observing that the State government received several complaints on anomalies on the distribution of essential commodities supplied by the government to poor families, Chief Minister Sonowal said that all DCs were directed to take prompt action against all unscrupulous elements and ensure exemplary punishment for them.

Further saying that the State government had already decided to provide 5 kg rice per month to per member of poor families who does not have ration cards under NFSA, the Chief Minister said that the Food & Civil Supply department was instructed to maintain a close watch on the distribution of food items. Fixing responsibility for distribution of rice to poor families on the Revenue Circle Officers, the Chief Minister said that they would have to ensure proper distribution of rice to targeted poor families involving gaonburas, panchyat representatives and MLAs.

The Chief Minister also asked the agriculture department to carry out a survey of crops and other agricultural produces in the State and directed to ensure safe storage of the same during the lockdown period. He also directed the department to develop a mechanism for the collection and selling of products thus collected from farmers.

The Chief Minister also appealed the followers of Islam to offer Namaz during the Ramadan month from their homes in the wake of novel coronavirus lockdown adhering to social distancing norms and informed that adequate steps have been taken to ensure the supply of fruits during this period.