Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 25: Expressing his resolve not to implement Food Security Bill as introduced by the previous UPA-II Government in the country, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today said that this scheme was not beneficial for the people of this State.
“We have studied the Scheme and also discussed with various senior officials in the Government. It has been found that the scheme is not beneficial for the people of this State. So, there is no need to go for its implementation,” the Chief Minister said while intervening during Question Hour in the Upper House of the J&K Legislature today.
The Chief Minister was responding to the question of PDP member Yasir Reshi and the subsequent queries of other legislators including Showkat Ganai from NC, Sofi Yousuf from BJP, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, Ajay Sadhotra from National Conference, Jehangir Mir, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Ravinder Sharma from Congress.
Showkat Ganai specifically asked whether PDP-BJP Coalition Government intends to introduce Food Security Bill in the J&K State, the Chief Minister however, clarified that since the Scheme was not beneficial for the people of this State, therefore, there was no need to introduce the same in the State.
Referring to the questions of great shortfall in the food supplies to the J&K State from the Centre as J&K was still getting food grains as per the census of 2001 in the State, the Chief Minister said that it is big issue as it is connected with the essential commodity. He said entire J&K State is mainly dependent on the food supplies from the Centre through Food Corporation of India. After 2001 Census, 2011 Census were also held but unfortunately the State is still getting food grains on the basis of old census of 2001. There is great shortfall and to cover up the same we have decided to take up the matter with the Union Government to procure needed ration on no profit no loss basis so that all the remaining population is covered.
Responding to the supplementary of Sofi Yousuf regarding time frame to provide ration on the basis of 2011 Census in the State, the Chief Minister said that State Government would take up this issue forcefully with the Union Government to provide ration/ food grains to the J&K State on the basis of 2011 Census. “We will ask the Central Government to fulfill the food requirement of the State. There is no much agricultural activity and State is not self sufficient in the food-grains. It will be our top priority to provide adequate food stuff to the people of this State,” Mufti Sayeed said.
Ajay Sadhotra alleged that ration is not being provided to the each ration card holder family as per Government scale of 35 kg ration and they are being provided less ration. The Government claim is not true. It was also asked why there was ban on issuance of new ration cards to the multiplying families. Jugal Kishore from Congress alleged bungling in the distribution of free ration as relief to the flood affected people and demanded inquiry into the matter. They said many deserving people have been ignored in the list prepared by the Revenue and CAPD officials.
Earlier, while replying to the main question of Yasir Rashid, the Minister in-charge CAPD, Ch Zulfkar Ali said that nearly 4,96,873 families are without ration cards in the J&K State. He said no fresh ration cards were issued to any household after the census of 2001.
The Minister further revealed that 19.72 lakh families have been issued ration cards in the State as per 2001 census. He said out of the total 4.96 lakh families without ration cards in the State; 2,95,032 are in Kashmir, 1,95,423 in Jammu and 6418 in Ladakh.
Responding to yet another question regarding scale of ration per family, the Minister said presently 35 kg ration is being provided to each family. However, there is provision for providing ration at the scale of 5 kg per soul per month under National Food Security Act, 2013 which is not implemented in the State.
JAMMU, Mar 25: Expressing his resolve not to implement Food Security Bill as introduced by the previous UPA-II Government in the country, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today said that this scheme was not beneficial for the people of this State.
“We have studied the Scheme and also discussed with various senior officials in the Government. It has been found that the scheme is not beneficial for the people of this State. So, there is no need to go for its implementation,” the Chief Minister said while intervening during Question Hour in the Upper House of the J&K Legislature today.
The Chief Minister was responding to the question of PDP member Yasir Reshi and the subsequent queries of other legislators including Showkat Ganai from NC, Sofi Yousuf from BJP, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, Ajay Sadhotra from National Conference, Jehangir Mir, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Ravinder Sharma from Congress.
Showkat Ganai specifically asked whether PDP-BJP Coalition Government intends to introduce Food Security Bill in the J&K State, the Chief Minister however, clarified that since the Scheme was not beneficial for the people of this State, therefore, there was no need to introduce the same in the State.
Referring to the questions of great shortfall in the food supplies to the J&K State from the Centre as J&K was still getting food grains as per the census of 2001 in the State, the Chief Minister said that it is big issue as it is connected with the essential commodity. He said entire J&K State is mainly dependent on the food supplies from the Centre through Food Corporation of India. After 2001 Census, 2011 Census were also held but unfortunately the State is still getting food grains on the basis of old census of 2001. There is great shortfall and to cover up the same we have decided to take up the matter with the Union Government to procure needed ration on no profit no loss basis so that all the remaining population is covered.
Responding to the supplementary of Sofi Yousuf regarding time frame to provide ration on the basis of 2011 Census in the State, the Chief Minister said that State Government would take up this issue forcefully with the Union Government to provide ration/ food grains to the J&K State on the basis of 2011 Census. “We will ask the Central Government to fulfill the food requirement of the State. There is no much agricultural activity and State is not self sufficient in the food-grains. It will be our top priority to provide adequate food stuff to the people of this State,” Mufti Sayeed said.
Ajay Sadhotra alleged that ration is not being provided to the each ration card holder family as per Government scale of 35 kg ration and they are being provided less ration. The Government claim is not true. It was also asked why there was ban on issuance of new ration cards to the multiplying families. Jugal Kishore from Congress alleged bungling in the distribution of free ration as relief to the flood affected people and demanded inquiry into the matter. They said many deserving people have been ignored in the list prepared by the Revenue and CAPD officials.
Earlier, while replying to the main question of Yasir Rashid, the Minister in-charge CAPD, Ch Zulfkar Ali said that nearly 4,96,873 families are without ration cards in the J&K State. He said no fresh ration cards were issued to any household after the census of 2001.
The Minister further revealed that 19.72 lakh families have been issued ration cards in the State as per 2001 census. He said out of the total 4.96 lakh families without ration cards in the State; 2,95,032 are in Kashmir, 1,95,423 in Jammu and 6418 in Ladakh.
Responding to yet another question regarding scale of ration per family, the Minister said presently 35 kg ration is being provided to each family. However, there is provision for providing ration at the scale of 5 kg per soul per month under National Food Security Act, 2013 which is not implemented in the State.
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