In a sudden move the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has stopped supply of levy sugar to the consumers who do not fall in BPL/AAY (PHH) category. The contention of department is that the Central Government has done away with the subsidy on sugar not only to the J&K but to all States. However, the State Government has decided to continue to provide subsidized sugar to BPL/AAY (PHH) category in the State and the burden of about 25 crore rupees on subsidy will be provided by the State Government. However even the subsidized rate has been increased from 13.50 rupees per kilogram of sugar to rupees 25 per kilogram. However the number of family members of each ration card holder will not be reduced and shall remain same as has been recorded in the census report of 2011.
The general impression is that department has been performing very shabbily under the Coalition Government. Even under earlier Governments too, this department had been under radar as it had become notorious for corruption. The food situation in the State especially in rural areas after passing the Food Security Act has been critical and many food grain outlets have gone without stocks. Earlier, in November 2016, the Government had raised the price of Atta from Rs 7.80 to Rs 13 and that of rice from Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg. Now a second blow has come in the shape of rise in the price of sugar just because tenders and fixation of rates with the contractors out-side the State are not finalized. Nobody understands why the Government has not been able to fix the rates with contractors from outside the State for nearly a year and half.
We understand the problem with the Government. It is of doing away with the subsidies. However, while subsidies are to continue in the case of BPL category, the question is what is the criterion of deciding as to who actually is BPL. According to available statistics 67 per cent of consumers in our State are said to be BPL. The fundamental problem is to ascertain the criterion for declaring a family BPL. About 74 lakh have been registered in the category of PHH or in other words living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and fall in the category of poorest of the poor (AAY). Rest 45 lakh have been shown in the Non Priority House Hold (NPHH) category. So, this 45 lakh population has been denied the levy sugar supply in the entire State while 62 % of the State population which has been shown in BPL/AAY (PHH) category by the department, will continue to get levy sugar at the rate of Rs 25 per kg. It is somewhat anomalous situation and needs to be redressed amicably.
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