In its effort to implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today launched the distribution of new ration cards among the beneficiaries at DC office Budgam.During his visit to the district, the Minister was accompanied by MLC Saif-ud-Din Bhat, Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Director CAPD Kashmir, SSP Budgam, Joint Director, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors and other senior officials of the Department and District Administration, besides some prominent citizens were present on the occasion.On the occasion, Director CAPD, Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmad Shah and Deputy Commissioner Budgam Mir Altaf Ahmad highlighted various features of the NFSA and the pivotal role played by CA&PD Department to streamline the ration distribution and consumer related affairs.Speaking on the occasion, Zulfkar dwelled on the importance of Ration Cards as a documentary proof.
The Minister stressed upon the people to educate themselves about their rights and entitlements and asked people to be vigilant citizens in identifying unfair practices. He also exhorted people to be forthcoming in their complaints.He said that the Department is in process of automation and would go a long way in streamlining ration supply and curb pilferage and other malpractices. Providing relief to the consumers, Zulfkar said that the Department has made ration cards available on the website of CA&PD Department with the facility of downloading ration cards and e-tickets.The Minister while paying tributes to Late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Saayed, said that it was a result of the focused attention of the former Chief Minister that he has been able to implement this scheme.He said that keeping in view the dietary patterns of people from valley, the Government decided to implement the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) that would ensure that people would get in total double the food grains as envisaged under NFSA.
The Minister said that he along with all senior officers of CA&PD Department will be available to address the complaints of the people. He promised to take strict and immediate action against erring officer/dealer. He urged the people to ensure that they get full quota of their allocated ration.While appreciating the role of administration in implementing the scheme he said that against 3 years taken elsewhere in the country, the State was able to complete the exercise within 3 months.The Minister while reiterating Government’s commitment to provide quality ration especially to the underprivileged sections of the society said that with the implementation of NFSA, more than 20 lakh left out beneficiaries have been included under Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State, adding that the Act covers around 74.13 lakh souls under Priority, while as 45 lakh are covered under ‘Non-Priority’, making the total to 119.13 lakh soul as against 99 lakh souls included previously. He also said that against 7.11 lakh MT provided earlier, 12 lakh MT of grains will be provided to the State now.Recognizing that there was paucity of sugar in the state due to bottlenecks of tendering process for the last few months, the Minister informed that the tender has now been finalized and 28,000 quintals of sugar would be available in a day or two. The Minister also said that on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, 1 Kg extra sugar shall be provided to the beneficiaries.