Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: Gover-nment has formulated ‘Ration Policy’ for nomadic Gujjar & Bakerwals which has come into force with effect from March 8.
On the direction of Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs has issued Government Order No 47 – FCS&CA of 2017 dated 8-3-2017 according sanction to the formulation of policy for distribution of foodgrains, sugar and K Oil to nomadic Gujjar & Bakerwals.
According to the order all the registered members of the community who migrate from one area to the other area will be eligible for the benefits under the scheme. It added that nomadic Gujjar & Bakerwals will be entitled for supply of rice/ wheat/ Atta/sugar and K.oil as per scale otherwise admissible under particular category under NFSA/MMSFES and also for getting extra sugar on eve of Idd/other festival in case released by Government.
The order reads: They shall be entitled to get the same ration/sugar/K.oil from the FPS nearest to their temporary residences. However, they will have to get registered with the concerned Assistant Director, FCS&CA Department, who will in turn requisition additional quota of ration accordingly from Director, FCS&CA Depa-rtment and release the same in favour of concerned FPS dealer well in time”.
About the rates, the order clarified that nomadic Gujjar & Bakerwal people will be entitled for getting the ration at the same rates at which the rice/wheat is provided to PHH category as provided in Govt. Order No.128-CAPD of 2015 dated 04.02.2015.
According to Order, the Assistant Director, FCS&CA Department concerned and the Director, FC&CA Depart-ment, Jammu/Kashmir will be the implementing agency at field level while Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district will be the Nodal Officer for monitoring the implementation of the policy within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Expressing concern towards nomadic population, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said that he was receiving complaints that nomadic Gujjar and Bakerwals are being denied ration at the places where they migrate following which his department has formulated Ration Policy for nomadic population.
He said that the policy has been brought to ensure regular food security in a time bound manner to the members of Gujjar & Bakerwal community who are nomadic having no permanent residence and who migrate from one area to another for the purpose of rearing their cattle or for work/for finding means of sustenance, at the scale/rate as admissible under PHH category under NFSA & MMSFES.
The Minister said that the policy will remain applicable till census 2021 or unless repealed or substituted with new policy and it will be implemented in accordance with the provisions of NFSA Act, 2013 (implemented in J&K State w.e.f. 01.02.2016) and MMSFES, 2016.
Giving data about the population of Gujjars, he said that according to 2011 census the total population of Gujjar and Bakerwals is 1177983 out of which about 8 lakh are totally sedentarized. He however said that Dhodi Gujjars (Banih-aras) whose total population is 103724 according to 2001 census and they are leading a semi nomadic life. He added that about 90 percent of the Bakerwals are still nomadic and oscillate between winter and summer postures along with their flocks of sheep and goats and they have to face problems of getting ration at their migrated places.
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