Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 10: The former Union Minister, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has sought an independent probe into the alleged bungling in the supply of rations and charging heavy rates even after the claimed enforcement of the National Food Security Act. Under the Act the wheat/atta and rice should be supplied at Rs. 2/- and Rs 3/- per Kg respectively. But without issuing ration cards the rationees are being charged at Rs. 13/- and Rs. 15/- per Kg although earlier even APL (NPHH) category families were supplied wheat/Atta at Rs 8/- per Kg and rice at Rs 10/- per Kg, he added and questioned that under whose orders this 60 and 50 percent increase is being charged and that too without any proper notification.
Prof. Gupta also questioned that how and why the scale of sugar has been curtailed from 700 grams to 500 grams per soul per month, and that too without any proper notification.
He expressed surprise that the rations are not being supplied regularly even after changing rates and scale. All this is leading to chaotic conditions in which there can be any bungling, he added and stressed for auditing of performa accounts.
Prof. Gupta warned that rations affects every house hold. And moreso, the supply of rations in Jammu has a great history as this system was introduced in wake of a big agitation in 1943. In this agitation 9 persons were killed in police firing.
Later in 1968, there was another food agitation which was led by great leader, Pt. Prem Nath Dogra.
Hence, there is need to pay due attention to the ration problems, he stressed and warned that prevailing mess should be checked to avoid another agitation.
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