Only 59% of Ration Shops in Tripura Receive Suji and Maida, 41% Still Await Supplies, Says Minister Sushanta Chowdhury
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, October 25, 2026
Even as Lakshmi Puja is being celebrated across Tripura, a significant number of ration cardholders are still waiting to receive the promised free festive food supplies, including suji, maida ( flour) and sugar. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Sunday disclosed that suji and maida had reached only 59 per cent of ration shops across the state, indicating that the remaining 41 per cent were yet to receive these essential commodities.
The Minister’s statement has highlighted the gap between the government’s promise of distributing free food items to eligible families before the festive occasion and the actual progress of delivery through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
According to the Minister, the distribution of sugar has also remained incomplete, as only a limited quantity of sugar had arrived in Tripura on Saturday. Consequently, a large number of ration shops were still awaiting supplies, leaving many beneficiaries uncertain about when they would receive their festive allocations.
Chowdhury, however, assured the public that all ration shops would receive the required commodities within the next few days and that eligible beneficiaries would be able to collect their supplies despite the delay.
Explaining the eligibility criteria, the Minister said that suji would be distributed exclusively to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cardholders. These beneficiaries would receive the full set of promised commodities, including sugar, maida and suji, while other eligible ration cardholders would receive free sugar and maida under the announced festive distribution arrangement.
The delay has raised questions about the preparedness of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, particularly because the distribution was expected to be completed before the festive period. With Lakshmi Puja already being observed, many families who had anticipated receiving the promised commodities in advance have been left waiting.
Asked about the reasons for the delay, the Minister reportedly attributed it to procedural and processing-related difficulties. However, the explanation has done little to remove concerns among beneficiaries who were expecting the supplies before the festival.
The Minister maintained that the delay would not deprive eligible families of their entitlements. Although distribution might be delayed by five to seven days beyond the expected schedule, the promised commodities would be provided free of cost, he assured.
The immediate challenge for the department is now to ensure that the remaining ration shops receive their supplies promptly and that the commodities reach the intended beneficiaries without further delay. The department will also need to ensure that the distribution process is transparent and that eligible families are not required to make repeated visits to ration shops to collect their allocations.
For thousands of economically weaker households, the promised festive supplies represent meaningful support during the Puja season. The government's assurance has therefore raised expectations that the remaining distribution will be completed soon and that no eligible beneficiary will be left out.
The key question now is whether the department will be able to fulfil its assurance within the next few days and ensure that all eligible ration cardholders receive their promised free commodities.
Despite the serious allegations regarding the alleged failure to effectively implement the One Nation, One Ration Card policy in Tripura and the reported exclusion of migrant beneficiaries from the pre-Durga Puja distribution of free sugar and maida, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has remained conspicuously silent on the issue. His silence has raised questions about the government's accountability and the Food Department's response to the difficulties faced by ration card holders who have shifted to new locations. The minister is yet to publicly clarify why eligible beneficiaries are reportedly unable to access the announced festive benefits at their current locations, why many migrated families have allegedly been unable to obtain new ration cards for nearly a year, and what steps the department is taking to ensure that no eligible family is deprived of its entitlements. The issue now warrants a clear explanation from the minister and urgent intervention by the department to address the grievances of affected beneficiaries.
more news...