Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 30: Government today said it will reimburse the money spent by migrants out of their own pocket for purchase of rations for the months of February, March and April 2016.
“The Government will deposit the money into the bank accounts of the migrants which they have spent on purchase of rations for the months of February, March and April this year,” said Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari in the Legislative Assembly today while replying to a point raised by MLA, Mian Altaf Ahmad on the issue.
The Minister said the Government was unable to make available rations for these three months to the migrants because of the modalities being worked out for implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the State. “The earlier practice was that the Relief Organization used to lift the rations for migrants from Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department in advance and the payment for the same was being made to CA&PD Department after the release of funds from the Finance Department,” he said. However, due to implementation of NFSA there was some disruption in the supply of rations for migrants and they had to purchase the same from the open market for three months, he added.
The Minister said due to the delay and technicalities involved in the supply of rations after implementation of NFSA, the Relief Department has sought advance funds to the tune of Rs 12 crore from the Finance Department for purchase of rations directly from Food Corporation of India (FCI) for distribution among the migrants.
“While in future there will be regular distribution of rations, the Government at the same time decided that the money spent by the migrants for purchase of rations for the months of February, March and April will be reimbursed and credited into their bank accounts,” he said.
The Minister also announced that the water supply scheme at Jagti Migrant Camp will be restored and augmented to cater to the whole population. He said while the immediate restoration works will be taken up by the PHE Department, which has been agreed by the concerned Minister and the administrative secretary, the augmentation of the scheme will be taken up under NABARD funding.
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