Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 7: Amidst the growing voices about unfair distribution of free ration sanctioned by the Government, startling revelation about manipulation of figures of floods affected families has come to the fore from the Reasi district, which has forced the top brass of the civil administration to seek immediate review of data to avoid criticism from the opposition parties.
The figures about the floods affected families were reportedly fudged on the political pressure from the ruling coalition partners in order to make use of the free ration to lure the voters during the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that following announcement of six months free ration for all the flood affected families across the State, the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts were directed to furnish lists to the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department so that distribution of free ration at the rate of 50 kilograms per flood affected family could be started.
Accordingly, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Shantmanu and Special Relief Commissioner for Jammu region, Bipul Pathak held interaction with the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu province through video-conferencing to ascertain the progress on furnishing of details of floods affected families.
During this exercise, it came to the fore that district administration Reasi had inflated the figures about the floods affected families under the political pressure, sources informed, adding the intensity of fudging of the figures can be gauged from the fact that 100% families of the Reasi district were projected as flood-hit and recommended for distribution of free ration.
As per 2001 census, there were 50,215 families in Reasi district and the number rose to 56,000 families during 2011 census with a total population of 3.14 lakh. Moreover, the present population projected before the Election Commission is 3.32 lakh. By any methodology, the total number of families in the district cannot be more than 62,000 at present. “However, the Reasi district administration has projected total families affected due to floods between 68,000 to 70,000”, sources informed.
More than 100% population of the district was shown as flood affected despite the fact that around 15000 families in Reasi and Katra did not suffer damages. Likewise, thousands of families in Pouni, Ransoo, Barakh, Bhambla and Arnas remained unaffected during the floods, sources further informed.
During the video-conferencing, both the Divisional Commissioner and Special Relief Commissioner noticed that families affected in Reasi are far more than the families affected in Rajouri and Poonch where floods caused maximum damage, sources said. While taking serious note of the fudging of the figures vis-à-vis families affected due to floods, Divisional Commissioner and Special Relief Commissioner directed the district administration to justify the ghost families, which the Deputy Commissioner failed to do so.
“Now, the district administration has been directed to furnish fresh list so that only genuine affected families get the free ration”, sources said, adding “the game-plan behind projecting more affected families was to make use of free ration for luring the voters by the leaders of ruling Coalition during the forthcoming Assembly elections”.
When contacted, Divisional Commissioner confirmed that inflated figures were projected by the Reasi administration for free ration. “There was no justification behind projecting 100% population as flood affected”, he said, adding “directions have been passed for furnishing fresh and correct lists of affected families, which are yet to be submitted”.
In response to a question, Shantmanu said, “for the convenience of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, upper limit of the families has been projected by excluding the families of Katra and Reasi towns”, adding “I will get the fresh lists from the district administration within next one or two days”.
When approached, Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Shabir Ahmad Bhat said, “the figures which were projected before the Divisional Commissioner and Special Relief Commissioner were only tentative and fresh lists are being compiled”.
However, sources said that manipulation of figures have raised eyebrows and put weight behind the allegations from different quarters about unfair distribution of free ration.
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