Changing trends in ration distribution and market checking initiatives for containing the rising prices of essential commodities the consumer in Jammu & Kashmir has come under increasing stress that is increasing unprecedentedly day after day, month after month and year after year. Notably just two years back the ration quota for AAY (Antadoya Anna Yojna) consumers was 35 kgs at the rate of Rs 3 per kg besides 5 kg free per soul and similarly it was 5 kg per soul free for BPL categories besides 5 Kgs at the rate of Rs 3/- under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and 5 Kgs at the rate of Rs 5 per soul under J&K Food Entitlement Scheme with total quantity not exceeding 35 Kgs. Interestingly calculations and comparisons with the present ration quota show that both AAY and BPL categories get just less than half of the total ration quota they were getting two year’s back amid rising prices of ration in the open market. Though Government recently brought some relief and respite to both AAY and BPL categories by offering them the entitlements of additional 10kgs per household at the rate of Rs 25per Kg besides 5 Kgs per soul free but still households of both the AAY and BPL categories won’t get even half of the quota which they were getting two years back and consequently they have to get almost half of the monthly ration quota at increasing unaffordable rates from the open market amid growing inflation.
“Keeping in view the increasing stress under which the consumers are reeling across Jammu & Kashmir a long awaited intervention by the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta is the last hope of the hapless consumers in Jammu & Kashmir. A change in both the ration distribution system and as well as rate enforcement system for the purposes of containing the soaring prices of all essential commodities particularly vegetables, mutton and poultry products could surely bring relief and respite to the consumers of lower middle classes in Jammu & Kashmir”.
While the ration quota has brought both the AAY and BPL consumer under stress, the Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department just days before the commencement of Eid Ul Adha this year scrapped the J&K Mutton (Licensing and Control) order 1973 just to end it’s intervention in the regulation the prices of mutton, poultry chicken, eggs and all such food items. This unwanted decision taken merely in reference to an interdepartmental discussion and an advice of Central Government has put the consumer in Jammu & Kashmir at the receiving end. Now amid soaring prices of vegetables and fruits even the market checking squads of the FCS& CA department mandated to inspect retail markets for the purpose of keeping under check prices of essential commodities particularly vegetables and fruits are no where visible in the vegetable and fruit markets across Kashmir .With FCS&CA department changing trend in ration distribution system and scrapping the J&K Mutton (Licensing and Control) order 1973 just to end it’s intervention in the regulation the prices of mutton, poultry chicken, eggs and all such food items the purposes and motives of the very existence of this (FCS&CA) Department has come into question. Keeping in view the increasing stress under which the consumers are reeling across Jammu & Kashmir a long awaited intervention by the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta is the last hope of the hapless consumers in Jammu & Kashmir. A change in both the ration distribution system and as well as rate enforcement system for the purposes of containing the soaring prices of all essential commodities particularly vegetables, mutton and poultry products could surely bring relief and respite to the consumers of lower middle classes in Jammu & Kashmir.
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