J K News Today
Jammu, March 18
Terming it as a huge muddle the former Union Minister, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has stressed for total review of the food management to stem the rot and put to a halt of the draining the exchequer leading to breeding of malpractices than any tangible results about eradication of poverty and contain the prices.
Commenting upon the swelling number of rationees especially those of the “Poor” getting rations at highly subsidized rates viz. Rs. 2/- to Rs. 3/- per Kg involving the subsidy component of Rs. 20/- to Rs. 25/- per kg. Prof.Gupta said that this was costing the Indian exchequer hundreds of crores of rupees. But with what results?
In this regard he pointed out that in early eightees when in the country under the slogans of eradication of poverty various developmental schemes were launched in J&K the number of the families of the poor were identified as four lakhs seventeen thousand which formed as about 29% of the population of the State. But in 2004 for purpose of the supply of the subsidized rations, this number went up to seven lakh fifty six thousand, which formed about forty percent of the total population of the State. But after the enforcement of the National Food Security Act this number of poor categories of families has been raised to about 19 lakhs comprising of over 74 lakh souls, which form about seventy percent of the total population, he added and also pointed out that on August 15th, 2005, the State Government had got the first prize for eradication of poverty which was adjudged first at 3.98 percent in this State. It was lowest in the Country.
Prof.Gupta said that it was surprising the State is still getting the subsidized rations in the name of poor and that too, for about 70 percent population.
He said that there are several other aspects of the ration supply system which clearly indicate to the scandalous proportions, rather more than that of infamous Chara Ghotala of Bihar.
In this regard, Prof. Gupta also pointed out that the number of rationees household have been listed at twenty eight lac fifteen thousand whereas in the sensus of 2001 the number of household was recorded at about twenty two lacs and the electricity supply connections are just about eighteen lacs. This indicated that there is much needed to be looked into. Moreover, he pointed out that despite expiry of more than two years all the rationees have not been provided with ration cards. The official figures show that only twenty two lacs seventy seven thousand house hold have been provided with the said ration cards. The ration cards provided did not carry any seal or signature of any concerned officer. In addition to this on the face of these cards the validity has been put at March 2018, as also the cost of these cards is being recovered bearing Rs. 75/- to Rs. 100/- or even more. No receipt is being provided for such a recovery.
He also said that there are reports that no performa accounts have been framed for handling the supply of rations for many years by the concerned department.
About the requirement of imports, he said the issue also needs to be looked into as in a Government survey itself has put the local production of food grains at 21.35 lakh metric tones and the total needs at 25 lakh metric tones leaving the gap of four lakh sixty five thousand metric tones. But the CAPD Department of the State has recorded the annual imports of eight to ten lakh metric tones leading to doubts about the actual imports.
Prof.Gupta also pointed out to the alleged bungling reported in the supply of free rations to the migrants. These rations are being supplied to about twenty thousand families at the scale of 11 Kg per soul whereas in Jammu in general this supply is just 5 Kg per head, the supply of rations to these migrant families is being conducted by the CAPD, but in the budget grants of the concerned ministry of Relief Organization, an yearly amount of Rs. 28 Crores have been earmarked for the last two years whereas earlier this amount per annum was just Rs.8 Crore to 9 crores. How this sharp rise in the expenditure of the foodgrains to the migrant families has been recorded, It is also a matter of deep look especially because of there has been no increase in the scale of rations and number of families in the recent years.
He also pointed out to an intriguing situation that for the distribution of these free rations to migrants, as dealers have not been paid any commission for the past 25 years, although the dealers are lifting these rations from the store at their own cost to be taken at their Depots. But there are reports that the Relief Organisation have been regularly paying to the CAPD for handling the distribution of these rations. How is that dealers have been perporming their duty without any charges and why the Department did not pay any commission or handling charges to the dealers, It is also a matter need probing.
Prof.Gupta said the supply system of the rations needed total overhauling and check the wrought. And both the authorities in the State as also at the Center should pay due attention to the whole affairs.
Prof. Gupta impressed upon the State Governor and also the Special Representative of the Center Dineshwar Sharma to also look into the matter.
