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| Tarigami demands food grains under universal system to J&K | | Urges for providing subsidized ration to weaker sections | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar Aug 24- State Secretary CPI(M) and MLA Kulgam, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has demanded adoption of unanimous resolution, cutting across party lines to press Central Government for providing food grains to Jammu and Kashmir under universal system as was the practice in early 1990s.
Participating in a discussion on the demand of grants on CA&PD in Legislative Assembly today, Tarigami urged the government to procure food grains from open market for supply to consumers on subsidized rates to tide over food grain shortage in the state.
Except hunger all other demands can be delayed, Tarigami said adding in view of its being basic need , the government is duty bound to meet the food demand on first priority basis. Funds for this could be even diverted from other heads, he argued.
Tarigami regretted the supply of food grains to the state on 2000 census, saying the population since then has markedly increased with thousands of new families having come up in the state. This, he said has further precipitated the crisis.
He said India figures among the lowest countries (66) in World Hunger Index of Food and Agriculture Organization. This, he said has falsified the claims of food sufficiency in the country and exposed rhetoric of inclusive growth. He said Central National Food Security Act primarily aims at saving Rs.4000 crore by withdrawing subsidy from Public Distribution System (PDS), adding implementation of this Act will lead to food crisis through out the country with J&K hitting the most.
He said restoring subsidy component will only require 1.6% of the country’s GDP.
Terming reduction of ration from 35kg to 25 kg per BPL/AAY family as envisaged in the country’s Food Security Act as most alarming, he said food security for this weaker section must be ensured at all costs. He called upon the government to immediately initiate steps in this direction to prevent the crisis from drifting towards out of control.
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