Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today informed the Upper House that 858817 new ration cards under the ambit of National Food Security Act (NFSA) have been distributed in the state so far.Replying to a question by Ashok Khajuria, the Minister said that the fidelity check is going on and cards would be given in all remaining areas once the task is completed. He said the concerned functionaries have been directed to expedite the fidelity check to ensure early distribution of ration cards.Meanwhile, the minister said government has not enhanced rates of ration for AAY, BPL and PHH categories as they will continue to get rice and Atta at Rs 3 per Kilogram. He said the rates have been enhanced for Non Priority Household (NPHH) category from Rs 10 to Rs 15 for Rice and Rs 8 to Rs 13 for Atta with effect from October 2016.
He however said that the rate of sugar has not been enhanced.Responding to the supplementaries by Legislators Khursheed Alam and Jugal Kishore, Minister said that rates were enhanced to mitigate the deficit faced by the department while procuring the food-grains. He said at present 7000 food-grain shops are functioning in the state adding that more Fair Price Shops would be set up for convenience of the consumers in the state.The Minister said that three months advance ration is being stocked in all areas of the state so that the consumers would not face any difficulty while getting their ration quota at their sale depots. He said the shortage of food grains in some areas of Reasi district would be looked into on priority.