Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 27: Massive pilferage in the CAPD ration supply system, delay in the delivery of quota especially in the rural and far-flung areas of the region has left thousands of hapless consumers high and dry.
The agitated consumers and even the public representatives time and again have brought the matter to the notice of concerned district administration and the district heads (ADs) of the CAPD Department, yet the problem has not been sorted out. The senior officers of the CAPD claimed that the Government was providing ration supply as per the projected census of 2001 and after that the census operation has not taken place. There was gap between the supply and the public demand and there is certainly shortage at many places of the food grains.
Reports reaching here from rural and remote areas like Kotranka, Budhal, Thanamandi, Darhal, Kalakote, Mandi- Loran, Bafliaz, upper reaches of Surankote and Mendhar, Gool- Mahore, Gulabgarh, Arnas, Chenani, Dudu- Basantgarh, Pancheri, Landhar, Bhamag, Kandi belt of Samba, Jammu and Kathua districts and parts of Bani, Basohli, Machhedi, Lohai-Malhar besides Wadwan, Paddar, Mahu-Mangat, Rajgarh, Marmat, Dessa and Bhalessa areas of erstwhile district Doda have revealed that thousands of rationees go high and dry in view of less quota of food grains available at the Government depots and late delivery of ration at the destinations.
There is also general complaint of the general public that the dealers not only in rural and remote but even in the semi-urban areas have fixed rate lists and majority of the outlets often remain closed. There is no proper check on the dealers and monitoring of the food supplies.
Sugar quota is released mostly after 15th or 20th of every month and by then, the consumers have to remain dependent on the supply from the open market. There is no adequate supply of Atta in the rural and remote areas and the consumers are left to make turns of the Government ration depots. Those residing in the hilly and mountainous regions have to track down to reach a depot for procuring food grains and ultimately, many of them leave hope.
The sources in the department revealed that deliberate delay in the ration and sugar supply every month makes easy way for pilferage of ration. Moreover, a nexus between some dealers and some key persons in the department is clandestinely operating in the absence of proper monitoring by the seniors in each block or tehsil and Ward in the JMC and in the jurisdiction of other Local Bodies. After taking 3-4 turns, the consumers leave hope and procure supplies from the open market and his their quota remains with the dealer.
While the ration dealers claimed that CAPD Department/ concerned TSO was not supplying them full allotted quota and due to this there was shortage of ration, the department officials on the other hand claimed that dealers were lifting their quota every month and there should not be any shortage. They even claimed that for winter months in some areas of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban there was enough stocks and there was no shortage.
Reports from Rajouri indicated that in Kalakote CAPD store there was no Atta for the last eight days and there was huge cry. Worst is the condition in Kotranka/Budhal area where ration is made available hardly after 20th and within 2-3 three days the depot gets dry. In rest of the months, the outlets remained closed. The dealers charged more for the Sugar, Atta and Rice and no rate lists are placed at the depots. They even didn’t bother for the public representatives. Sugar is made available for Rs 15 a kg instead of Rs 13.50 as Government rate, rice for Rs 12 per kg instead of Rs 10 for APL and Atta for Rs 8 for BPL rationees.
While a group of people brought the matter to the notice of district administration recently but there was no improvement in the system. The dealers on the other hand alleged that they were being provided hardly 40 % ration of the full allotted quota and under such circumstances, they were unable to provide adequate ration to the public. They even complained to the administration that carriage charges were pending with the TSO Kotranka concerned for the last six months and cheques were not being issued.
Department was offering cash after surrendering 20 % commission which was not acceptable to them. It has also been established that in Budhal area several ration depots are not operating from their original place allotted and are located on the road side but they are managing carriage charges with the connivance of CAPD field staff. This is, however, common problem in many other areas including Poonch, Reasi, Ramban, Udhampur, Kathua, Kishtwar and Doda as well.
A senior officials from Kathua claimed that there are 90,000 APL families in the district and 18000 quintals is the quota of atta allotted but the district is getting hardly 9710 quintals. Similarly against the quota of 13000 quintals rice, district is getting just 5760 quintals while BPL quota and sugar is being given as per its full quota.
AD Food Reasi Kewal Krishan claimed that as per 2001 Census 12,560 families are excess registered in the district and therefore ration quota is not being received as per its full quota. But he claimed that supply is dispatched in time to the stores but the dealers lift late. He ruled out any dearth of supplies.
Reports from Ramban indicated severe shortage of food grains in Gool- Sangaldan, Rajgarh, Mohu- Mangat and Pogal- Paristan area. Same is the position in Basantgarh, Pancheri, Landhar, Bhamag, Dudu-Basantgarh, Dudu, Chenani and parts of Ramnagar besides Machedi, Basohli, Duggan, Bani, Bhoond and Kandi belt of Samba and Kathua where people have to depend on the FCI/CAPD supplies. In the absence of proper monitoring, the public hue and cry for want of ration often goes on unheard.
Director CAPD Jammu, G S Chib, when contacted, attributed the shortage to the less supply of ration quota to the State by the Food Corporation of India. He said in Jammu region there are 8,15,419 registered (APL/BPL/AAY) families with the CAPD Department. The people are being provided 35 kg ration ( 20 kg Atta and 15 kg Rice) and 700 gm sugar per member. He said even after 13 years, the State is being provided ration as per the projected population of 2000.
After census of 2001, over 1.5 lakh families were found excess. This is major gap and the population has to be covered. Untill and unless the Central Government increased the quota of the State, it is very difficult to meet the demand. The Sate Government has taken up the issue with the Union Government on number of occasions and after the passage of Food Security Bill improvement is expected in the supplies, he maintained.
When asked about the winter stocking position in parts of Kishtwar and Doda where heavy snow fall takes place, the Director said enough supplies have been transported to Marwah and Wadwan area of Kishtwar and stocking was completed by September 30, 2013. In Dakshan and Paddar area over 70 % supplies have been stored and rest 30 per cent will be stocked within next week. The supplies have also been stocked for winter months in Pogal Paristan and Mohu Managat areas of Ramban district, Mr Chib maintained.
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