18.93 lakh living below poverty line in State

GUWAHATI, Dec 16 ? Assam has 18.93 lakh people living below the poverty line (BPL) with the highest 1.65 lakh in Nagaon district. Replying to a written query of Etwa Munda (Cong) in the State Assembly today, Food Minister Nazrul Islam said 35 kg rice per family was given at BPL price. Each family member was also given 700 gm sugar at Assam BPL price, four to five litre kerosene oil per family and five kg salt at BPL price. Attempts were being made to raise the living standards of the 4000 BPL families in the tea garden areas under the tea plantation development scheme.