Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: The former Union Minister, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has strongly protested against the supply of ration on very heavy rates even to the poor categories and that too in a most irregular manner.
In a statement here, today, Prof. Gupta pointed out that the National Food Security Act was enforced in the State about a year back. Under the law, priority household and also the AAY category of the families are legally entitled to have wheat at Rs. 2/- and rice Rs. 3/- per kg up to 5Kgs of ration to each soul. But it is strange that even these poor categories are being supplied wheat/atta at Rs. 13/- and rice Rs. 15/- per Kg. Thus, virtually a loot is being let loose on the poor rationees.
Prof.Gupta expressed surprise over the reports that the supply of wheat/atta is being stopped. This would directly hit the people of Jammu areas who are having wheat/atta as their staple food.
He pointed out that Jammu is having a great history in connection with the supply of rations to the consumers as there had been big agitations linked with this system. The stoppage of supply of wheat/ atta would have a great bearing on the life of the people of Jammu, Prof. Gupta warned and appealed to the higher ups both in the State and that of Center to take note of the fiddling with the poor rationees, that too of Jammu areas.
He questioned that how and why the supply of sugar is not being maintained regularly and at whose instance the scale of sugar quota has been curtailed viz from 700 grams to 500 grams per month. And, moreover that too is not being supplied in a proper manner.
Prof.Gupta appealed to the auditing and other concerned authorities to see that whether the proper performa accounts are being maintained or not with regard to heavy charging of the cost of the food grains from the rationees as there are reports that no proper performa accounts are being maintained. It is a serious matter.
He also asked the concerned authorities that why the new ration cards have not been provided to the rationees despite repeated pronouncements by the concerned Minister.
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