FCS&CA’s voluntary surrender of ration tickets sees no takers
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, July 28: The operating licences of at least 2 dozen Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Srinagar have been suspended while around 27 more have been directed to pay out of their pocket for the ‘less ration’ provided to the beneficiaries in violation of the Nation Food Safety Act (NFSA).
In this regard, official sources told Excelsior that after the issue of less distribution of the ration was brought to the notice of the Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), an inquiry was initiated after which it was found that a number of FPSs were distributing ration to the beneficiaries under the NFSA “at a scale lower than the entitled one.”
Officials further stated that the inquiry revealed that the shopkeepers, whose Point of Sale (PoS) transaction of the previous month was reported low, were indulged in such practices of providing ration to the beneficiaries at a lower scale with the plea that they were receiving less quota from the Government.
“It is to be noted that the ration is allotted by the Government as per PoS transactions of the preceding months,” the officials said.
The officials said that the low PoS transaction in a particular month is attributed to the inefficiency shown by the concerned FP Shop dealers and the TSO concerned.
With regard to the action taken against such dealers, officials said that the deficient quantity of ration which these ration depots received needs to be made “good” by the shopkeepers/TSOs concerned which they will do out of their pockets. The number of such FPSs that have been penalised is 27.
As per details, there are 3 such FPSs each in Soura, Nowshera and Qamerwari, 4 in Mehjoor Nagar, 2 each in Batamaloo, Bemina, Kani Kadal and Zaina Kadal and 1 each in Hawal Pathar Masjid, Bul Bul Lanker, Amira Kadal, Chattabal and Rambagh which have been penalized for distributing less ration among the beneficiaries.
“They need to provide the beneficiaries with full ration as per their entitlement failing which it has been directed that the same amount shall be deducted from their salaries,” officials said.
Further, there are also around 24 such dealers whose licences for the Fair Price Shops have been suspended and it has been directed that their ration quota is diverted to the nearest Government Depots as per the convenience of the general public.
There are 3 such FPSs whose licenses have been suspended in Batpora, Nowshera and Bemina, 2 each in Soura, Amdakadal, Habba Kadal and Rambagh; 1 each in Gowkadal, Safa Kadal, Amira Kadal, Kanikadal, Lawaypora, Qamerwari and Batamaloo.
On the other side, interestingly, while the department had issued an order on July 7 asking those whose financial condition had improved since 2016 to voluntarily surrender their ration cards of the AAY/ PHH category, the same has witnessed no takers.
As per officials, only one such person in Pulwama has surrendered his ration ticket so far after the order was issued, “rest there does not appear much effect of the order issued,” the officials said.
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