JAMMU: Notwithstanding repeated assurances of Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS and CA) to streamline the supply of ration in government depots, consumers continue to face hardships due to the non-availability of essential commodities at the depots.
This was stated by former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla while speaking at a public meeting in Bhour Camp here on Sunday. The meeting was organised by Sarpanch O.P Bhagat, Panchayat Bhour East in which people of the area apprised problems being related to basic amenities i.e, road connectivity, ration shortage, electricity, etc.
Bhalla asserted that there is no check on the ration being imported in Jammu and Kashmir as the government has failed to establish laboratories to check the quality of food items in the State. Expressing concern over the irregular supply of ration, Bhalla asked the government to streamline the FCS and CA Department and sought action against staff responsible for such a situation. “The poor sections of society, especially those living below poverty line, are totally dependent on public distribution system for ration as they cannot afford to buy rice, Atta, sugar etc, from open market,” he said, adding that there has been no progress about establishing the laboratories to check the quality of ration thus raising serious doubts that sub-standard ration is being provided to the people. Mentioning that public grievances redressal camps are held only with the sole objective of getting publicity in the media, Bhalla regretted that the Ministers of PDP-BJP Coalition Government have failed to dispose of huge number of issues mostly pertaining to basic amenities brought to their notice by the common masses since the government took over the charge.