Minister distributes new rations cards under NFSA

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 20

Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali started the process of distributing new ration cards to beneficiaries in Budgam district today for implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

The Minister said the department was in process of automation and would go a long way in streamlining ration supply and curb pilferage and other malpractices. The department had made ration cards available on its website with the facility of downloading.

Chowdhary Zulfikar said keeping in view the dietary patterns of people from the Valley, the government had decided to implement the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) that would ensure people get a double amount of food grains envisaged under the NFSA.

The Minister, while reiterating the government’s commitment to provide quality ration to the underprivileged sections of the society, said with the implementation of NFSA, more than 20 lakh left-out beneficiaries had been included under the Public Distribution System in the state, adding that the Act covers 74.13 lakh persons under Priority and 45 lakh under Non-Priority, making the total to 119.13 lakh, as against 99 lakh people included previously. He also said against 7.11 lakh metric tonne provided earlier, 12 lakh metric tonne of grains would now be provided to the state.

Recognising that there was a paucity of sugar in the state due to bottlenecks of tendering process for the last few months, the Minister informed to people the tender had been finalised and 28,000 quintal of sugar would be available in a day or two. The Minister also said that on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, an extra 1 Kg of sugar shall be provided to the beneficiaries.