Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 25: Former Union Minister, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has asked the State Government authorities to come out clearly that how and under whose orders the rates of wheat, atta and rice being supplied to the consumers have been heavily raised.
Prof. Gupta pointed out that in the public notice as published in the news papers in first week of this year, it was given that the rations under NPHH (which was earlier known as APL) would be supplied at Rs. 8/- per kg atta and Rs. 10/- per kg rice, in addition 5 Kg per soul ration would be provided under MMSES (Mufti Mohammad Syed Entitlement Scheme) at Rate of Rs. 13/- per kg atta, and Rs. 15/- per kg rice. How all this has been changed under whose orders and why, nothing has been made clear, he questioned and said that most amazing is that for past many months the rations are not being supplied regularly.
He said besides, the consumers have not been provided ration cards. This is leading to a scandalous situation as the consumers do not know under what category they fall.
Prof. Gupta also questioned that under whose orders and why the per head scale of sugar has been reduced to 500 grams from earlier 700 grams per soul per month. And moreover, this quota is also not being supplied regularly.
Prof. Gupta said that Jammu has a great history of introduction of ration supplies to the consumers. It was taken up in early forties during the Maharaja’s regime in wake of a big food agitation. In this agitation on September 24, 1943, in police firing nine persons were killed and some others injured. A three member Judicial Commission was set up by the Maharaja which was headed by a judge of a High court. Advocate Roop Chand Nanda and a battery of other senior lawyers presented the public case. In light of the findings of this Commission two police officials were sacked. As also then Prime Minister, K.N Haksar had to resign from his post. And Maharaja had opted for the distribution of rations at the official level.
But in Jammu a strange phenomena has developed. Nobody is clear that who falls in what category of the rationees and an all round messy situation has been created. But it is the duty of all concerned to take note of the gravity of the issue especially keeping in view the background in which the ration supply system was introduced over 70 years ago, he cautioned.
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