Simrandeep Singh
Ever since the lockdown was ordered in the last week of March, 2020, the Government of India as well of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir had laid full emphasis on maintaining and ensuring essential supplies to the people of the Union Territory. A well-coordinated effort has been mobilized by all the District Administrations, J&K Police, various NGOs, Civil Societies, Private Sectors and the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in maintaining essential supplies. The Food Corporation of India, various Oil/LPG companies, Fruit Mandi / Sabzi Mandi associations; wholesale associations of Groceries, Pharma, etc., have also actively participated in ensuring smooth supplies.
In the last 20 days, the Jammu and Kashmir Government launched an ambitious effort to distribute two months advance ration (April and May, 2020) to all the 26.45 lakh Ration Card Holders in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. As per the plan, the Government through its network of 7694 Fair Price Shops and private ration dealers was to distribute 11.47 lakh quintals of ration to all the ration card holders of J&K, by 17th April, 2020. Out of this, as on 10th April, 2020, as much as 7.43 lakh quintals of ration (Atta/Wheat/Rice) has been distributed to nearly 1 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir, that makes 65% of the total ration of two months.
Then comes the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PM-GKAY) that promises to give free Rice and Pulses to BPL households. From 18th April, 2020, free rice @ 5kg per AAY/BPL/PHH beneficiary will be distributed over a period of 10 days till 28th April, 2020. Another 10 kg rice per person, free of cost, for the months of May and June, 2020, shall be distributed to AAY/PHH/BPL beneficiaries in one go, beginning 1st May, 2020 till 25th May, 2020. This entire effort will comprise a total
distribution of 10.77 lakh quintals of rice to nearly 72 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Apart from this, under the PM-GKAY, 1 kg of pulses per AAY and PHH families will be distributed later in the month of April, 2020. This will involve a total distribution of 49350 quintals of Dal to 16.45 lakh eligible families in Jammu and Kashmir. NAFED, a cooperative of the government of India, will be delivering the supply of Pulses to J&K later next week.
In total, a whopping 22 lakh quintals of food grains have to be distributed among 1.15 Crore beneficiaries in 55 days. In normal course, the department of Food and civil supplies takes 135 days to achieve this task. A well-coordinated effort of the Food Corporation of India; Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department and the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation has been chalked out to achieve this task. The JK SRTC will be providing 30,000 truck-days over 55 days to ensure this massive effort. An estimated 550000 man-days of labor effort will be required to achieve this task.
Apart from the Ration card holders of J&K, another nearly 1.70 lakh people are being provided ration/cooked meals by a mix of governmental and civil society efforts. Nearly 1.10 lakh stranded migrant laborers/other destitute are being provided ration support in the form of Atta, Rice, Cooking oil, Salt, Sugar, Soap, etc., by various Deputy Commissioners in the entire UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, 44,883 poor people in slums etc., have been extended ration help by various NGOs and Civil Society organizations like the Radha Swami Satsang Beas, the Sahib Bandagi Sect, Kabir Dass Sabha, Dogra Sangathan, Khalsa Aid, Agarwal Sabha, National Awami Group etc. Various employer- companies like AFCON, Navyug, GAMMON, HCC, Patel Engineering, Industrial Units at Lassipora; Khanmoh; Baghat-Barzullah; Bari Brahamana, Samba, Gangyal etc., have
also provided ration and other assistance to nearly 38,000 workers.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana also provides free LPG refills (up to three) to the Prime Minister UJWALA Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries. The three oil companies namely HPCL, BPCL and IOC have launched a massive campaign to provide home delivery of free cylinders to the PMUY beneficiaries. Out of a total of 12.45 lakh beneficiaries in Jammu and Kashmir, Rs. 55 crore has been transferred by the oil companies to 6.84 lakh beneficiaries for availing free LPG refills. So far, nearly 44,000 bookings have been received by the LPG companies, out of which nearly 30,000 LPG cylinders have been delivered by the companies to the beneficiaries in the last 10 days
To maintain supplies, in the last 20 days, nearly 14,000 trucks and tankers with LPG, Petroleum products, medicines, fruits and vegetables, FCI ration, cattle feed, poultry, etc., have been facilitated to enter in Jammu and Kashmir through Lakhanpur to maintain the supplies of essential commodities. Likewise, nearly 10,000 trucks and tankers of essentials have crossed Jawahar Tunnel, via NH-44, to maintain supplies in Valley.
All the people who are working to make this possible are risking themselves on daily basis to ensure continuity in the system.
(The author is Secretary to Government, Deptt of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, J&K)
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Follow our WhatsApp channel
