Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 19: Amid attack on National Food Security Act by opposition and separatists, Government today hinted at reviewing implementation of the legislation, saying said it is “not a word of God or a religious book which cannot be changed”.
The State Government assured people that there would be no reduction in the scale of rations because of the Act under which each person of a BPL family is entitled to only 5 kgs of ration per month at subsidised rates.
“We should not have let it (the law) become so controversial. But unfortunately, it has become controversial. We will consider reviewing the scale of giving 5 kgs of ration per person per month and I assure the people that we will not reduce the scale (of allocation),” Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Chowdhary Zulfqar Ali told reporters in downtown area of the city.
He said the department was collecting the data of the population on the basis of which a policy will be made and a reasonable ration scale would be maintained in the State keeping in view the circumstances here.
“We are collecting the information and making a data bank on the basis of which we will make a policy. There is no streamlined system as of now, we are trying to streamline the system,” he said.
“This legislation is not a word of God or a religious book which cannot be changed,” the Minister said, adding “We will not let shortage of rations happen” and “It is our responsibility to provide ration to the people.”
He said the data was gathered in 2012 but the department has not finalized that. “We have sent it (the department) back to the public (for recollection of the data) for correction,” he said.
Earlier, Minister inaugurated automation of Oil Retail Outlet namely Azad Filling Station and declared 100 percent automation of all Indian Oil petrol pumps in Srinagar city.
Director CAPD A R War, Executive Director (Engineering) Gurmeet Singh, Executive Director Automation PK Das, Executive Director Punjab State office and other officers were present during the function.
The Minister said that the automation is beneficial to both dealers and consumers who can now get automatic records for their fuel purchases, nozzle usages, bills generated along with date and time in just a matter of seconds.
Mr Zulfkar asked the Indian Oil to spread their outlets to uncovered areas of the State and also stressed upon the oil companies to streamline distribution of oil and gas in the state particularly in the winter season.
Regarding the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) Minister said that it is beneficial for the people living both below and above poverty line.
The Minister said 74.13 lakh persons from poor and marginalised sections of the society will be provided ration at subsidized rates — Rs 2 per kg for atta and Rs 3 per kg for rice.
“Another 45 lakh people will be provided atta at Rs 8 per kg and rice at Rs 10 per kg,” he said.
Previously ration was provided to people according to 2001 census figures and with the result families with 10 members were getting just 35 kilos of rice. Now under NFSA, the same family will get 50 kilos of rice,” said Zulfkar.
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