Former Minister Public Works and MLA Amirakadal Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has hailed the decisions taken by the Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti particularly the launch of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) and the step-up pension scheme for the pensioners in the State.In a statement issued here, Bukhari termed the launch of MMSFES as a major initiative taken by the Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti that will assuage the apprehensions raised by a section of people about ration curtailment under National Food Security Act (NFSA).Bukhari said by introducing the food entitlement scheme Ms Mufti has fulfilled the commitment made by her father Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who had promised to remove the anomalies, if any, in NFSA and make its provisions more people-friendly.
“The major scheme which has been essentially launched in response to demands and grievances of a major section of people in the State was much awaited and this scheme should be implemented from May 1, 2016,” Bukhari demanded.Regarding the financial difficulties faced by family and old age pensioners falling in different categories, the former Public Works minister observed that the step-up pension sanctioned by Ms Mehbooba Mufti led government is bound to mitigate the sufferings of retired and the old age people in the State.“The additional pension that Ms Mufti led government has announced for old pensioners and family pensioners on attaining the age of 80, 85, 90, 95 and 100 years will address the monetary difficulties by the retired as well as the old age people in Jammu and Kashmir,” Bukhari said while terming this scheme as a major welfare program initiated by the PDP led coalition government. (KNS)