Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 22: Minister for Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today said that the department has successfully covered 119.25 crore State population under National Food Security Scheme (NFSA) and provided additional ration to 7407460 beneficiaries under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) to supplement existing food supply under NFSA to the consumers.
Winding up the discussion on Demand for Grants of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs Departments in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister informed the House that for the current year, under NFSA, the department has allocated 324432.852 Mts food grains to Jammu division and 426648.228 Mts to Kashmir division, besides, a yearly allocation of 288768 Mts food grains to both divisions under MMFSES.
The Minister said, “consumers are being provided essential commodities as per entitled quota within fixed timelines and due attention is being paid to ensure quality of food grains being supplied”.
With regards to distribution of sugar to the consumers, he informed that 74.13 lakh beneficiaries were provided sugar by the state out of its own resources as the subsidy on sugar has been withdrawn by GoI with effect from April, 2017.
Regarding status of distribution of ration cards to consumers, the Minister informed that 80.56% beneficiaries have been provided with ration cards; distribution of remaining cards is being expedited.
While informing the House about reduce in Kerosene oil quota to the state, he said that allotment to State during 2013-14 was 94698 KLs which has declined up to 39% during 2017-18 to 58476 KLs owing to GoI’s efforts to increase penetration of LPG; GoI likely to phase out KO’s allocation by April 2019.
“Digitization efforts have been launched full swing to revolutionize functioning of the department and increase transparency in the system. In this regard, Electronic Distribution System e-PDS has been introduced in the State,” the Minister informed.
Giving details on e-PDS, the Minister informed that 1457 Point of Sale Machine (PoS) have been installed in 5 districts so far and remaining districts will be covered by end of February 2018, 6411 VMCs have been constituted and 1571939 (56%) Ration Cards have been seeded with Aadhaar so far.
Further, to lessen the burden on existing Sale outlets/FPS besides employment generation, 4388 new FPS have been sanctioned and 1085 issued so far to the people.
Regarding implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY) in the State, the Minister informed that J&K has been ranked No 1 in the country in distribution of free LPG connections to BPL women beneficiaries of the state.
The Minister further informed the House that J&K has recently been awarded by GoI for best overall performance in Civil Supplies (Promoting Oil and Gas Conservation) (SAKSHAM), for State’s performance during 2017.
The Minister said that 56 new LPG agencies will be established to expand the network of LPG retail outlets in the State.
The Minister asserted that steps have been taken to strengthen the Consumer Protection Act in the State with measures like reconstitution of J&K State Consumer Protection Council, District Consumer Protection Councils and designation of State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission as State Food Commission, among others.
The Minister reiterating Government’s commitment to consumer welfare said that the department intends to amend the J&K Consumer Protection Act, 1987 in order to make it more stringent and consumer friendly, besides reviewing other Acts under the ambit of the department.
About Tribal Affairs Department, the Minister said that for inclusive development of State’s tribal population multiple steps have been taken in various sectors especially education, agriculture, dairy and sheep husbandry.
He said that setting up of Tribal Research Institute in J&K State will be paramount in focusing efforts on development and preservation of tribal cultural heritage besides providing inputs for evidence based planning and appropriate legislations, capacity building of Tribals and institutions associated with tribal affairs, dissemination of information and creation of awareness.
Zulfkar said to promote and support education among ST students, 05 Eklavya Mode Residential Schools (EMRS) have been sanctioned for Anantnag, Kulgam, Rajouri, Kargil and Poonch districts; EMRS Anantnag and Kulgam are near completion and academic activities are likely to be started from April 01, 2018.
He informed that each EMRS has a capacity of about 480 students- 240 boys and 240 girls and will provide lodging, boarding facilities and education to ST students free of cost.
Additionally, 23 ST/G&B Hostels, 17 for boys and 6 for girls are currently functional with intake capacity of 2125 students; works underway on 20 new G&B Hostels, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 26 crore. Further, six hostels will be converted into residential schools in Kupwara, Bandipora, Kathua, Poonch and Doda at a cost of Rs 12.50 crore.
He informed that under Skill Development initiative, during current financial year, 1100 ST students (50 from each district) will be trained in Paramedical Courses. Adding to 11 Cluster Tribal Model Villages sanctioned for 11 districts during 2016-17, 6 more CTM Villages have been sanctioned in 03 districts in current year till date, the Minister stated.
Various issues of Tribals including application of Forest Right Act and Tribal policy in the State, Application of SC/ST Atrocities Act to State, Settlement of nomads in the state is under active consideration of the Government, the Minister assured.
Earlier, initiating the discussion, Javid Ahmad Rana sought opening of Fair Price Shops in Mendhar and Balakote areas of Poonch district, special focus on the issues of tribal population and redress of their genuine demands.
Asgar Ali Karbalai urged the Government to implement Supreme Court guidelines with regard to the promotions of the ST/SC employees. He also urged the Government to establish a Tribal Skill Development Institute and provide special grants for the purpose.
Neelam Langeh urged the Government to issue ration cards to the left out families in his constituency at earliest. Choudhary Qamar Hussain urged the Government to take concrete steps for the permanent rehabilitation of tribal population.
GM Saroori urged the Government to enhance quantity of the ration for the people living in far flung areas especially tribal community. Mohammad Akbar Lone urged the Government to ensure transparency in the department, provide sugar to the consumers of all categories and streamline supply of kerosene oil.
Bashir Ahmad Dar urged the Government to strictly implement laws with regard to the legal metrology to ensure the consumers get their commodities at genuine rates. He also urged the Government to establish more sale centres in far flung areas of his constituency.
Jeewan Lal appealed the Government to ensure that all tribal community get equal share of reservation for ST community. Abdul Majeed Padder urged the Government to provide sugar and Kerosene to all categories including APL.
Usman Abdul Majid complained that the Government has ignored the tribal population in Bandipora district. Mubarak Gul urged the Government to intensify the market inspections to check food adulteration and take strict action against the erring traders. He said the main reason of various diseases including cancer is due to food adulteration.
Syed Farooq Andrabi urged the Government to provide kerosene oil and sugar to the consumers for it being popular demand of the consumers. He also urged the Government to establish a tribal hostel and establishment of more Food depots in his constituency.
Dr Krishen Lal appealed the Government to provide ration according to the latest survey it is being provided as per the census conducted eight years ago. Choudhary Mohammad Akram urged the Government to frame a policy for the inter-district recruitment and reservation of tribal population. He also urged the government to establish mobile schools for nomadic population and recruit more teachers for such schools. He also urged Government to renovate Gujjar Bakerwal Hostels.
Shah Mohammad Tantray urged the Government to establish more Fair Price Shops and streamline rations supply in areas of his constituency lacking road connectivity. Altaf Ahmad Wani urged the Government to come up with a tribal policy to streamline the initiatives being taken by the State for the uplift of tribal community.
Viqar Rasool urged the Government to ease the process for issuing documents for the Tribal. He called for protection of the Tribal population and allow them to stay at places where they have been living from past many years.
Raja Manzoor urged the Government to follow the guidelines with regard to the reservation in promotions to the members of Tribal community. Abdul Majid Bhat Larmi urged the Government to establish more Fair Price Shops in left out areas. He said there is no Tribal population in his constituency but an LPG outlet has been kept reserved for tribal population.
Yawar Ahmad Mir also highlighted the issues faced by the Gujjar Community in the state, especially in receiving the ration and urged the government to streamline the distribution of ration.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
