Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Mar 11: After the issuance of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards across Kashmir over 10 years ago, the authorities have finally woken up from a deep slumber, ordering re-verification of such ration cards which are said to be over 2 lakh in number across J&K.
In this regard, formal directives have been issued by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) to all the Assistant Directors across Kashmir to conduct the process of re-verification of AAY ration cards and submit the report accordingly.
“…You are hereby directed to conduct the re-verification of AAY Ration Cards as per the guidelines in vogue and submit the findings to this directorate within 15 days positively,” read a communication that has been issued to the Assistant Directors in the districts.
It is to be noted here that, as per official figures, across Kashmir, there are 1 lakh 48 thousand 457 AAY ration cardholders, while as the details reveal that in district Anantnag, there are 19 thousand 792 AAY cardholders, 9158 in Bandipora, 27 thousand 518 in Baramulla, 18 thousand 618 in Budgam, 5571 in Ganderbal, 10 thousand 826 in Kulgam, 27 thousand 305 in Kupwara, 14 thousand 667 in Pulwama, 6680 in Shopian and 8382 in Srinagar.
In Jammu, there are over 80 thousand such AAY ration cardholders, which include, 9324 in Doda, 23 in Jammu Circle-1, 35 in Jammu Circle- 2, 3 in Jammu Circle-3, 9283 in Jammu Rural, 7436 in Kathua, 7436 in Kishtwar, 10798 in Poonch, 13849 in Rajouri, 4824 in Ramban, 9421 in Reasi, 2434 in Samba and 6366 in Udhampur.
Officials told Excelsior that since 2011, there has not been any verification carried out concerning the AAY ration cardholders, while when the National Food Safety Act (NFSA) which was implemented in 2014-15, there were clear directions from the authorities not to touch the AAY and PHH categories even the field officers were told to include new households under the AAY.
“While new were included, there was no revision made in the AAY list, neither was any re-verification carried out since then even as there have been people whose socio-economic condition has improved, but continue to hold the AAY ration cards,” the officials told Excelsior.
They said that in 2013, the Government issued a PDS order under which it was clearly stated that no new AAY ration cards will be issued, while now, as per the direction of the re-verification, the existing cardholders will be cross-checked as per the guidelines and accordingly the consumers would be redistributed in different categories.
Under the AAY scheme, the cardholders get 35 kgs of rice at the cost of Rs 3 including the same amount of Aata under the same cost. Under the AAY cards, the consumers are also entitled to the monthly issuance of sugar which no other ration cardholders get. The cardholders also get subsidized timber under the AAY scheme.
It is also pertinent to mention here that there have been reports of several well-to-do families across Kashmir holding the AAY ration cards, and there was pressure on the authorities to carry out a re-verification. “For the effective verifications, the committees have been constituted in the districts; the concerned Tehsildar will be carrying out the entire process,” the officials said.
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