Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 8 : Democratic Progressive Azad Party staged a protest in Srinagar today and marched towards the Divisional Commissioner’s office to express their opposition to the government’s decision to halt subsidized ration for the Above Poverty Line (APL) category.
The party criticized the decision, labelling it as anti-people and unfriendly, and asserted that such a measure would not be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Taj Mohiuddin, the treasurer of the DPAP, emphasized the importance of understanding the historical context of the ration scheme, which originated during the rule of the Maharaja. He argued that the government cannot arbitrarily undo the scheme without considering its consequences on the ground.
He said during the Maharaja’s rule, shali stores were established throughout Jammu and Kashmir to ensure food security for all, considering the region’s food deficit status. Taj Mohiuddin pointed out that the population of the Union Territory has significantly increased since the Maharaja’s time, while food production has declined. “Under such circumstances, the government can not deprive people of food and it is the responsibility of every welfare state to ensure no one sleeps hungry,” he said.
Taj Mohiuddin accused the present regime of contradicting its claims by praising the era of the Maharaja while simultaneously scrapping or modifying welfare schemes that benefited the common people. “During the previous government’s tenure, Below Poverty Line (BPL) families received 7 kilograms of ration per person, up to a maximum of 35 kilograms, while Above Poverty Line (APL) families received 13 kilograms per person at the landed cost. I urge the authorities to reinstate the same scheme,” he said.
The protesters later marched towards the office of the Divisional Commissioner and the Provincial president Kashmir Mohammad Amin Bhatt submitted a memorandum of certain demands in the larger interests of the people.
Vice Chairman GM Saroori said that Jammu and Kashmir was the only state which was providing subsidized or free ration to its people and covering around 70 percent of its population. He said when the rates of essential commodities are skyrocketing, it is the duty of the government to take care of the Poor section of people and ensure all are fed before they go to bed. He said not only the scheme needs to be restored immediately but the number of grains must be increased since the majority of the population here is rice consuming.
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