The much touted food security scheme in Jammu and Kashmir looks to have not taken off well to the expected level as promised by the government. Not only that State had announced additional grains under Mufti Mohammad Food Security Act to enhance the per head ration as a welfare gesture. Today people for whom this Food Security Act was enacted are a dejected lot with complaints of under weighed ration or no ration. This is the ground reality one comes across in the streets. Is this the Food Security one can expect from the government which promises welfare of the people? Not only this recently the Comptroller and Auditor General has pulled up the State Government for “undue delay” in implementation of National Food Security Act and also criticised the public distribution department for “not reviewing” earlier the list of BPL families. The CAG report tabled in Assembly has shown that 26 per cent of the population remained out of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) coverage. The lopsided and topsy-turvy functioning of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Deptt. and the lethargically implementation of policies have made one thing sure that people are not happy with the ration distribution. The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is yet to be implemented despite the fact the department had sought six-months extension from the Centre which lapsed in October 2014. The CAG report also recommended a slew of measures to improve the functioning of CAPD, like reviewing the list of BPL beneficiaries, updating of accounts and strengthening of Public Distribution System (PDS) to extend benefits to targeted population. Audit scrutiny showed that the department failed to provide food security to all the identified persons of the State under Annapurna Scheme during the period 2010-14. Thus identified beneficiaries ranging between 23 to 85 per cent were deprived of the benefit of free ration under the scheme, the report said. Just by introducing technologies like GPS for tracking the vehicle and biometric system for the beneficiaries the malady in the CAPD cannot be got ridden. The State Government should introduce stringent measures to check pilferage and black marketing of ration and making the depot holders accountable. Then at least some relief can be expected for ration beneficiaries.
