India is all set to supply around 14,000 metric tons of rice to Bhutan, a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) depot in Siliguri.

FCI officials said the quality rice would be delivered to the neighbouring country from the SAARC’s Food Bank very shortly. “The procedure to deliver 14,000 MT of quality raw rice is almost complete. Bhutan officials contacted us yesterday to know about the amount that will be delivered every day. Everything has been finalized, except for the transportation system. We have informed Bhutan officials that on an average, 700 MT of rice will be delivered from the Siliguri depot every day,” said the Divisional Manager, FCI, Saptarshi Mondal.

It may be noted that the Union Home Secretary had recently asked the state Chief Secretary to allow transportation of essential items like food, medicine and fuel, to SAARC countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The borders have been closed due to the Covid19 spread and the lockdown. Talking to reporters at Nabanna today, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha admitted the recent order from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and said: “We have good relations with those neighbouring countries. We never want those countries to face problems at the present situation. We must look into their problems. But we have some obligations. Only an order from the MHA is not enough. Not only West Bengal, but all states have the right to impose strict restrictions based on a written order from the Centre.”
 
https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/siliguri-fci-depot-set-to-send-14000-mt-rice-to-bhutan-1502882962.html