news details |
|
|
| J&K to implement Food Security Act, begins population survey | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Dec 13: Despite facing shortage of foodgrains, Jammu and Kashmir Government has been forced to begin primary exercise for the implementation of Congress-led UPA Government's much talked about Food Security Bill.
Though the legislation does not apply to the state of Jammu and Kashmir but the State Government had already started the exercise. It needs to be mentioned here that the Food Security Bill would become applicable to the State after the State Legislature passes it. There are two routes. One would be that the Ministry for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) goes for ordinance and the other would be bringing the bill in short budget session which is likely to be held in February 2014.
In the most likely scenario, sources informed Early Times that department is likely to take ordinance route. But even before Administrative Department begins the legislation work, Department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) has already begun the process of surveying the population to be covered under the provisions of Food Security Bill.
Sources said that Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan has asked Directorate to begin the process of counting the heads to be covered under the Food Security Act. After receiving directions from the Minister, the two directorates in Kashmir and Jammu have both issued verbal as well written instructions to the Assistant Directors (Ads) for surveying eligible households to be covered under the Food Security Act.
The field officers have been told to adhere to guidelines while carrying out the survey in their respective areas. The survey has to be completed within a stipulated period of one month. According to sources, officers have been told not to fudge figures or send wrong information. The data collect by the field officers would be cross-checked and verified by Tehsil Supply Officers (TSOs).
Then this data would be compiled on regional basis and sent to the two Directorates for further necessary action. Sources maintain that CAPD does not want to take any chance this time and has, hence decided to get the survey done by it own teams. "Our teams would ensure that only the deserving get the benefits of Food Security Act as and when it is implemented," said an officer.
He maintained that State Government covers 99.01 lakh population as per projected population of the year 2000. There are 18.02 lakh families (Ration Ticket Holders) receiving foodgrains at 35 kilograms per family per month. The Government of India allocates 63,067 metric tonnes of foodgrains for the total projected population of 2000 at the said scale of 35 Kilograms per family per month.
The law will cover 84 crore people. The Government of India claims that people will get ration on cheap rates once the Bill is cleared. As per Ordinance, 50 per cent urban population would be covered while 75 per cent rural people would be benefited. At present the State gets only 63,067 metric tons of ration against the total requirement of 79,567 MT per month.
Currently, we are providing ration to 19.71 lakh families in J&K as per 2001 Census against the total population of ration card holders of 1.25 Crore. There are 1.60 lakh people who don't have ration cards. They get ration from other channels like open market which is also a cause of worry for Jammu and Kashmir Government. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
