SRINAGAR, Oct 9:
Admitting that consumers in Jammu and Kashmir were being provided ration as per 2001 census, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon today said the matter has already been taken up with the Centre.
But people will be provided ration as per 2011 census only when the Food Security Bill (FSB) will be passed by Parliament, the Minister informed the Legislative Assembly.
He said it is a fact that the number of persons has increased since 2001 census.
“We took the matter with the Union Government during the meeting of CA&PD Ministers,” he said, adding, “but we were informed that FS bill has been introduced in Parliament which was later sent to Selection Committee of the House.”
He said the Union Government has informed that the bill will be passed during the winter session and people will be supplied ration as per the census of 2011 and all left out families will be accommodated.
Replying to the question of Congress member G M Saroori who alleged that majority areas in Kishtwar district, including his Inderwal constituency, were facing acute shortage of wheat flour, he said people from far-flung and remote hilly areas had to cover more than 40 km to get flour from fair price shops of the CA&PD when the Government has announced that there would be one fair price shop after every four km.
Mr Akhoon said efforts are being made to find out how to supply wheat flour to consumers in far-flung areas which remained cut off during winter.
“We cannot store flour for months because there is every possibility that it gets rotten, he said.
Another member from Kishtwar district Sajjad Ahmad of ruling National Conference (NC) alleged that despite the orders passed by the Ministers to issue proper ration to consumers, the situation on the ground is totally different where officers are refusing to implement the orders.
People still are purchasing a gallon of water for Rs 15 and ration cards are being issued as per the census of 2001 when the number of every family has increased.
The Minister said 100 per cent flour was being supplied under Public Distribution System (PDS) which gets delayed because the flour is being lifted from Jammu and distributed to consumers in Kishtwar.
Further the ration for six months during winter is being dumped in Marwah, Warsah, Dacchan and Paddar, he said, adding that flour cannot be dumped due to short shelf life as the same is susceptible to rotting if stored for long. However, he said, the department is working to arrange flour for these area as per demand.
Several other members also wanted to raise the issue of their respective areas but were disallowed by Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone. (UNI)
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