JAMMU: Expressing his strong disapproval of the recent steep increase in the prices of food grains, Harsh Dev Singh Chairman and Former Minister has called upon the CAPD Minister to roll back the same in view of severe hardships caused to the common man. He said that huge increase in the prices of ‘Atta’ and Rice had come as a shocker to the general public who had been awaiting the arrival of “Achhe Din” with baited breath. He said that the sharp hike of Rs. 5 per kg in the price of Atta from Rs. 8 per kg to Rs. 13 per kg with further increase in the price of rice from Rs. 10 to Rs. 15 was most unreasonable and could not be justified. He said that spurt was unprecedented as it amounted to 63 per cent increase in the price of Atta and 50 per cent increase in the price of rice which posed the most menacing threat to the pockets of the common man.
Calling upon the Minister CAPD to specify the reasons for such as sharp hike, Harsh said that the decision was violative of the spirit of National Food Security ACT (NFSA). He said that the Food Corporation of India had also been supplying ration to the State at much lesser prices and to increase the same unilaterally was an obnoxious move that had created a lot of resentment amongst the general masses.
Seeking the indulgence of the union and state ministers, Singh sought immediate roll back of enhanced rates failing which the common men would be forced to resort to direct action. He further regretted that the provisions of National Food Security Act (NFSA) which provided for nutritious meals to pregnant and lactating mothers, children up to 14 years age as per prescribed nutritional standards and payment of Food Security Allowance in the event of non supply of food grains under the Act were not being implemented. Accusing the CAPD Department of bias and prejudice in the process of revision of BPL lists, Singh said that the departmental functionaries were guided by extraneous considerations rather than the prescribed guidelines. He said that hundreds of complaints of violations of norms, neglect of bona-fide contenders and fraudulent inclusion of ineligible persons in BPL lists were paid a deaf ear by the concerned authorities for vested interests.
Seeking indulgence of the minister concerned, Singh called for a review so as to rectify the irregularities and to set right the tampered records. He cautioned to agitate the matter before the union and state government in case the fraudulent entries in the BPL records were not rectified.
Harsh Dev Singh further called for affixing the lists of BPLs as well as APLs on the notice boards of all ration depots and fair price shops including the ration received, the quality of ration, scale to be provided to each beneficiary and the rate charged. He further called for inspecting the weighing machines used by millers and depot owners which reportedly over weighed and cheated the ultimate beneficiaries.
He regretted that the Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Cells constituted by CAPD for checking the food grain laden trucks from FCI entering J and K had also become dysfunctional due to the Department’s apathy and sought their activation. He called for strict mentoring of kerosene oil supply which was largely being sold in black in the market and to transporters. He said that the gas connections and stoves under PMUY were being distributed on pick and choose as per the whims and fancies of CAPD officials and their political masters without adhering to prescribed guidelines which was scandalous.