Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Aug 8: The residents of Maitra and adjoining areas today staged a demonstration against the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department, seeking reforms in the ration distribution system.
Led by Fairoz Khan, former National President of the NSUI and the State Working President of the Youth Congress, J&K, the protestors claimed they’re facing severe difficulties under the current system of ration distribution.
In a statement, Fairoz Khan appealed the authorities, particularly the Director, Food and Civil Supplies and Deputy Commissioner Ramban for immediately dividing the existing ration depot in Maitra into five separate Panchayat-level depots.
He proposed five new depots as Maitra A, Maitra B, Pernote A, Pernote B, Tatrsool, and Maitra town.
According to Khan, the sole ration depot at Maitra currently is tasked with serving 1,770 ration cardholders, an unmanageable load that has led to significant delays.
He said residents, particularly those from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, are often forced to wait days together sometimes up to a week to receive their monthly ration quota, exacerbating their hardships.
Khan criticized the apparent indifference of Government employees towards the suffering of the poor, despite their secure and well-compensated positions.
Later the Tehsil Supply Officer (TSO) of Ramban took prompt action by deploying additional staff to the depot, temporarily alleviating the situation.
Following assurances from the department, the protestors dispersed, but the demand for lasting solutions remains strong.
Meanwhile, former MLA and General Secretary JKPCC, Ashok Kumar has strongly urged the Director Food and Supply to bifurcate ration depot Maitra into three smaller units.
In a statement issued here, he said that the BPL, PHH and poor families have to wait for a week to get ration from the store due to the heavy rush of people.
Ashok further said that the labourers, BPL families, women and other marginal sections of people have to face difficulties as they cannot go to work to earn their daily wages due to this menace.
“Moreover, technical errors in the machine during ration distribution are also creating difficulties for poor people,” he said.
He demanded the Government to provide at least 3 food ration stores in Maitra, Ramban so that the difficulty of the poor families could be reduced.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
