Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6: Minister for CA&PD, Zulfkar Ali today informed the Lower House that Government would initiate inquiry for not providing free ration to some areas affected during September 2014 floods, adding that all such areas that were affected during the floods have to receive free ration for six months.
Replying to the supplementaries, the Minister said that the matter for providing ration as per the census of 2011 to the consumers of the State has been taken with Central Government and after receiving approval, the ration cards for leftover families would be issued as per the census 2011. He said National Food Security Act (NFSA) is under examination of the Government.
In reply to the main question by Dr. Krishan Lal, the Minister said that rations cards have been issued as per census-2001 in the State and the ration cards as per census-2011 would be provided to the eligible households as and when food grains are allocated as per the census by the Centre.
The Minister informed that new declaration survey forms have been issued amongst the general public for identification of eligible households.
Legislators, Rajeev Jasrotia, Jeevan Lal, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, G. M. Saroori, Mir Zahoor, Mubarak Gul and Nazir Ahmed Gurezi raised supplementaries to the main question and highlighted the demands for providing hassle free ration to the consumers of their respective areas. They urged for issuance of free ration to the families whose property and crops were damaged due to recent incessant rains and landslides.
Meanwhile, Minister for CA&PD, while replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Satpaul Sharma, said that Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is providing food grains on the basis of projected population of the year 2000 while as the State Government is providing ration on the basis of 2001 Census.
He informed that the scale of 35 Kg/family is being maintained in case of BPL and AAY categories within the municipal limits of Jammu city. However, there is a shortfall of food grains under APL category as the food grains are not being received on the basis of families of census 2011 from Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The Minister further informed that wheat is not being provided to the TPDS rationees in Jammu city, however 100% PDS Atta is provided to the rationees across Jammu Division.
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