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| Non-rationees make bee line on ration depots, rationees suffer | | Black-marketing of government rations | |
Surinder Raina
Jammu Aug-31- Notwithstanding the tall claims of the government to have checked black marketing of government rations by the ration dealers to a great extent in the city, the menace was gaining momentum with every passing day. While the actual rationees suffer for want of the rations, the non-rationees are being provided the same at exorbitant rates by the ration dealers.
The sources said that ration dealers of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) are black marketing ration openly and no one dares to stop them. According to records of CAPD, under Public Distribution Supply (PDS) minimum 20,000 quintals of wheat is distributed in the city to ration card holders every month. But in the month of June court ordered the CAPD department not to make any grinding of wheat till next hearing following some bungling between CAPD officials and mills owners in grinding of wheat. On July 25 court ordered the CAPD department to continue its supply of ration. After the court order the department supplied 5,000 quintals of ration flour to dealers from July 26 to July 31 last. But 15,000 quintals of flour remained balance with the department as a monthly quota and the department asked the dealers to take the balance quota of July. Ration dealers took the extra quota of ration in August and are selling it to on high rates to the shopkeepers and non-card holders in place of giving extra ration to card holders.
According to sources, dealers are selling not only wheat, but rice and sugar also on high rates to the shopkeepers and non-card holders. Some of the dealers are also selling ration to the card holders on high rates in spite of rates fixed by the government. When asked by customers they did misbehave with them and threaten not to give rations. Sources blamed that department gives the opportunity to dealers to took the profits after selling ration in black and also took some money from them in this regard.
As per government approved rates, dealers have to sell sugar at rupees 13.50 per kilo, flour at rupees 7.30 and rice rupees at 9.75 per kilo but they are selling it at rupees 17, 10 and 12 per kg respectively and even some times more than it. As per rule dealers have to display a rate list in their shops but no one is displaying it and making fool to the customers.
It is not understood on what basis the rations are supplied to the depot holders. Is it on the basis of the strength of rationees of the area or at the sweet will of the Department? If it is on the basis of the strength of the rationees then how the dealers are selling rations to the non-rationees that too at the higher rates thus making handsome benefits for themselves.
In some of the cases the rationees have been clamoring for the rations and have been even visiting the depots frequently but of no avail. They are straight way told that supplies have not come but at the same time are found selling the same to the non rationees especially the outside laborers putting up here.
If the sources are to be believed the ration depot holders have been making false entries in the ration books of the consumers and even in certain cases, the commodity never taken from the depot is shown to have been supplied. Thus the surplus is being sold to the non rationees at higher rates.
When contacted, the officials of CAPD said that regular checking of the depots is not possible as they are short of the checking staff. They said that twenty inspectors of CAPD who were charged the responsibility of checking the ration depots stand suspended by the department since last one year after their alleged involvement with kerosene oil mafia. They however, maintained that some junior staff has been assigned this job and candidly admitted black marketing of rations.
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