Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 18: Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Department, Ch. Zulfkar Ali today informed the House that newly launched National Food Security Act (NFSA) is providing highly subsidized ration to 95 per cent of the population in the State.
Winding up discussion on Demand of Grants for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Department, the Minister said that with the implementation of NFSA, more than 20 lakh left out beneficiaries have been included under Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State. He said that the Act covers around 74.13 lakh under Priority, while as 45 lakh are covered under ‘Non-Priority’, making the total to 119.13 lakh soul as against 99 lakh souls previously.
“From the uneven food distribution system, State shall be moving to highly targeted PDS on even basis,” the Minister informed the House. “The food grains will be provided as a matter of right and in case food grains are not provided, there is provision of Food Security Allowance,” he added.
Zulfkar said that NFSA provides uniform scale of ration @ 5 kg per soul across the State excepting AAY category where 35 Kgs scale irrespective of soul strength is being maintained. “It is in the interest of State’s economy as we have to procure 7.51 lakh MTs of ration at very subsidized price,” he said. “Poorest among the poor is more beneficial under the Act,” he added.
“With the decrease in agricultural landholding and production, 90 per cent of the population in the State depends on Government Supplies,” Zulfkar said, adding that department faces various challenges including poor transportation mechanism, poor loading at the FCI godowns, pilferage of food grains, poor road connectivity particularly in hilly and snow bound areas.
Recalling the Pre-NFSA scenario, the Minister said that State was provided ration on the basis of projected population of the year 2000, which left 1.70 lakh families uncovered. “Due to increase in population from 2001 to 2011, about 20 lakh souls had been added who were not covered under any Targeted Public Distribution System,” he said.
Giving credit to late Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, for reaching out to the people at the grassroot level, Zulfkar said that the launch of ‘Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme’ (MMSFES) is a visionary step of the current Government. “With the implementation of MMSFES, the State will be able to provide additional 5 kg of foodgrains per soul over and above the NFSA scale to BPL (PHH), PHH and NPHH bonafide rationees having family size from one to six subject to maximum of 35 kgs per family,” he added.
The Minister said that the Government has taken various steps to check pilferage in the public distribution system. “In view of alleged reports regarding pilferage of food grains, adulteration of food grains in FCI/CAPD Stores and in order to have a check on pilferage and adulteration, the lifting of 40% food grains directly from FCI has been stopped,” the Minister said. The Department has directed lifting of 100% food grains from the FCI Godowns from the State to stock directly in the food godowns of the districts for onwards distribution. This will check the pilferage and ensure quality food grains, he further added.
Zulfkar said that the Department has completed digitization of majority of records and also created e-ration tickets. He said that various initiatives have been launched like printing of 3 types of Ration Cards to avoid misappropriation of PDS ration, besides CCTV Cameras/IP cameras have been installed in major godowns in the State to keep surveillance on PDS and payment on account of carriage, commission, handling charges and transportation charges.
The Minister said that e-PDS project costing Rs 20 crore has been introduced to check pilferage, diversion of food grains and to ensure that food grains reach the desired destinations well in time. He said that Government will soon open new fair price shops across the State that would generate new avenues of employment for youth. He said in order to lessen the burden on the existing Sale outlets/FPS, Department is going to open 2700 new FP Shops for which policy is being formulated.
With regards to Legal Metrology Department, the Minister said that the Center has in principle agreed to provide funds for setting up of 11 labs during 12th Five year plan. The labs are meant to maintain and ensure the accuracy in weighing and measuring instruments used by commercial establishments.
Later, the House passed the grants of Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Department, for the year 2016-17, which were moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs 769.48 crore.
Earlier, speaking on the grants, Qamar Hussain hailed the State Government over implementation of NFSA. Krishan Lal hailed NFSA implementation in the State but demanded that the sugar should be distributed among consumers.
Hakeem Yasin said there is a shortage of storekeepers particularly in far off area and said the Government should look into it.
Mubarak Gul said CAPD Department is sleeping and there is no check on the market prices while as Haji Asgar Karbalaie said the J&K is highest rice consuming State but the Government is instead cutting down the rice quota.
Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh demanded re-introduction of guest control programming. He demanded squad to check the distribution of kerosene oil and urged Government to look into corruption cases in CAPD Department.
Ali Mohammad Sagar said there is a need to creative sensitivity with regard to CAPD and flayed Government over NFSA implementation. He further said that the Government has made several U-turns after NFSA implementation.
Vikar Rasool said the NFSA is a good scheme and admitted it was introduced by UPA. He demanded inclusion of children born after 2011 in the ration list and pointed out that there are number of flaws in the lists prepared by the CAPD Department.
Dilip Singh Parihar hailed Minister Chowdhary Zulfkar and said since he has assumed the charge of the CAPD there have been positive changes.
Raja Manzoor said though the ration under NFSA is highly subsidized but the quota is less. He demanded enhancement in ration scale in snowbound hilly areas.
Pawan Kumar Gupta demanded that the Government should enhance ration quota from 5 kilogram to 7 kilogram per soul. He also demanded clearance of pending payments of dealers.
Ravinder Raina defended the decision to implement NFSA in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar said there is acute shortage of sugar in the State and that too in the holy month of Ramadhan.
Bashir Ahmad Dar said the CAPD Minister would tackle the problems which arose after the implementation of NFSA in the State.
G M Saroori said they will support the CAPD Minister for betterment of people as the department is directly related to the food consumption.
Yawar Mir said without indulging in blame game the CAPD Minister should look whether the NFSA is benefiting people or not. He raised the issue of acute shortage of ration.
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