Srinagar – Complaints are pouring in of ill-stocked government ration depots in the Valley, particularly in the Srinagar and the Budgam districts, with weaker sections finding it difficult to procure essentials like rice, atta and sugar.
Scores of depots in the city are virtually empty even with half the month over, public delegations say, and supposed beneficiaries are forced to buy the commodities from the market at exorbitant prices.
Depot officials blame government stores, saying food-grains and other essentials were not being supplied in adequate quantities to meet the public demand.
Even where stocks are available, ration card-holders are being supplied 5 to 10 kg less of their allotted quota of rice, reports say.
People allege that the remaining is being sold in the black-market to open retail dealers.
If a consumer insists on his full quota of rice from the depot, the officials there charge him extra, people say.
Depot officials sell rationed rice in the black market as all ration-card-holders do not pick up their quota from the government outlets, they say.
Officials at the Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution Department say that the Food Corporation of India supplies commodities according to the 2001 census.
There would have been no question of shortages had the FCI supplied rations according to the 2011 census, they claim.
(Observer News Service)
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
