Jharkhand plans clothes for 68 lakh families ahead of festive season, districts asked to begin preparations

The Jharkhand government is preparing to distribute saris, dhotis and lungis to around 68 lakh beneficiary families ahead of the festive season under the Sona-Sobran Dhoti-Sari Scheme, with distribution likely to begin from October.

The scheme is being implemented for the first half of the 2026-27 financial year. The Directorate of Food and Consumer Affairs has asked deputy commissioners of all districts to initiate the necessary preparations for distribution.

Officials have been instructed to first assess the stock left over from the previous financial year before determining fresh allocations. The number of saris, dhotis and lungis remaining from 2025-26, as recorded on the department’s online distribution portal, will be adjusted against the new requirement.

Under the scheme, families covered by the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Jharkhand State Food Security Scheme (JSFSS) will be entitled to one sari and one dhoti or lungi.

The government has also put quality checks in place before the clothes are supplied to beneficiaries. For the current financial year, the garments are scheduled to be supplied by Mafatlal Industries Ltd.

Beneficiaries will have to pay only Rs 10 per garment. The clothes will be distributed through Public Distribution System (PDS) dealers.

Of the Rs 10 collected for each garment, Rs 1 has been earmarked as the dealer’s commission and Rs 2 towards transportation expenses. The remaining Rs 7 will be deposited with the office of the district supply officer.

District authorities are currently assessing available stocks and requirements before finalising the distribution arrangements. Once the stock reconciliation and allocation process is completed, supplies can move to PDS outlets.

If the departmental preparations and supply schedule remain on track, beneficiaries could start receiving the clothes in October, ahead of the major festive period.

The Sona-Sobran scheme is aimed at providing basic clothing to economically vulnerable households covered under the state’s food security network, with distribution routed through the existing PDS system.

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