Kolkata: More than two crore ration-card-holding families in West Bengal will get a special Durga Puja ration package this year, with flour and sugar available at 50 per cent discounted prices and semolina included in the festive supply.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the package on Saturday, saying it is expected to benefit more than eight crore people across the state. The government has allocated ₹150 crore through the Food and Supplies Department for the initiative.
The special package will be available during the Durga Puja week, which is scheduled from October 17 to 21 this year. The move is intended to provide some relief to ration-card families during the festival period.
What Families Will Get Under the Puja Package
Under the festival ration package, each eligible ration-card family will receive a fixed quantity of three food items.
The announced quantities and prices are:
- 1 kg flour at ₹19
- 1 kg sugar at ₹30
- 500 grams of semolina
The government will bear the remaining 50 per cent of the cost for the subsidised items. While the prices of flour and sugar have been announced, the final price of semolina has not yet been disclosed because its procurement process is still underway.
The state has already completed the tender process for flour and sugar. The tender and procurement process for semolina is expected to be completed soon.
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Over 2 Crore Ration Families Covered
The package will cover around 2.12 crore ration-card-holding families in West Bengal. The government estimates that the initiative will reach more than eight crore people through the state’s ration distribution network.
This makes the festive package considerably broader than a targeted welfare scheme restricted to selected categories of beneficiaries.
According to the Food Minister, the benefit will be available to eligible ration-card families across the state rather than being limited to a particular community or category on religious grounds.
₹150 Crore Set Aside for Festival Support
The West Bengal government has allocated ₹150 crore for the Durga Puja ration package.
The subsidy means beneficiaries will pay only part of the cost of the selected food items, while the state government will cover the remaining share. The Food and Supplies Department will oversee the procurement and distribution arrangements.
The government had initially considered providing the festival items free of cost. However, Food Minister Ashok Kirtania said the decision was changed after taking the state’s financial position into account. The government therefore opted for a 50 per cent subsidy this year instead.
Free Festival Ration May Be Considered Next Year
The Food Minister has also indicated that the government could consider making the festival package completely free in future years if the state’s financial position allows it.
For this year, however, the government has chosen a subsidised-price model. The approach allows ration-card families to receive essential festival food items at reduced prices while limiting the immediate financial burden on the state.
The final implementation will depend on the completion of procurement, particularly for semolina, and the distribution process during the Puja period.
Package Open to All Eligible Ration Families
The government has stated that the Durga Puja ration package will not be restricted to any particular religious community.
Food Minister Ashok Kirtania said the benefit would extend to all eligible ration-card-holding families covered by the state’s ration system. The stated coverage is around 2.12 crore families.
This makes the package a broad public distribution measure linked to the festival season, with eligibility based on ration-card coverage rather than religious identity.
What This Means for Families During Durga Puja
Durga Puja is one of West Bengal’s major annual festivals, and household spending generally rises during the festive period. By offering selected food products through the ration network at subsidised prices, the package is intended to reduce part of the food expense for eligible families.
The scale of the programme also means that procurement and distribution will be important for its delivery. Flour and sugar procurement has already moved ahead, while the government is completing the process for semolina.
With more than two crore families included, the scheme will require coordinated distribution through the state’s existing ration system during the festival window.
A Large-Scale Festival Welfare Package
The 2026 Durga Puja ration package combines subsidised food supplies with wide coverage through West Bengal’s public distribution system. The government has committed ₹150 crore this year, while keeping open the possibility of free festival supplies in future if finances permit.
For now, the immediate benefit for eligible families will be access to flour at ₹19 per kg and sugar at ₹30 per kg, along with 500 grams of semolina. The final semolina price and procurement details will become clearer once the tender process is completed.
The initiative therefore places the ration network at the centre of the state’s festival-season welfare support, potentially helping millions of households manage some of their food expenses during Durga Puja.
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