NFSA implementation in 2016 improves number of households in J&K

0
257

Scores of in-eligible beneficiaries fails to surrender BPL/AAY

By: Mohammad Tahir

SRINAGAR: Despite the implementation of National Food and Security Act-2016 in the then State of Jammu and Kashmir, scores of in-eligible beneficiaries have failed to surrender their BPL/AAY cards on voluntary basis.

A government order in this regard was issued by the Director of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Kashmir vide their office no: DFCS&CA/plg/2154-79 Dated 07/04/2021.

The handout said that NFSA was implemented in Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2016. Whereas, under National Food Security Act (NFSA) two categories of households viz AAY & PHH are registered for receiving ration on highly subsidized rates.

The two categories have been identified on the basis of being poorest of poor and poor respectively.

Since the implementation of NFSA the economic condition of many households has improved either through acquisition of Government Job or through means rendering them in-eligible for receiving subsidized ration under AAY/ Priority Households (PHH) categories.

All such families/households/Ration ticket holders whose financial position has improved rendering them ineligible for receiving ration under the above mentioned categories are hereby advised to voluntarily surrender their ration ticket issued in their favor under AAY/PHH categories within 15 days, reads an order copy.

However it is learnt from reliable sources that Assistant Directors Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, (FCS&CA) of Kashmir division has prepared a list of eligible ration card holders.

There are scores of such Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card holders who deserve all the facilities under NFSA-2013, while at the same time there are government employees or high class businessmen have been also enlisted in the BPL and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) categories, which is a matter of confusion, said sources.

Sources said that, almost three months have passed since the order was issued, but the concerned department has failed to weed out the in-eligible beneficiaries from BPL and AAY list as there must be proper criteria for choosing such deserving people in the society.

Riyaz Ahmad said that, a committee should be constituted by the concerned Deputy Commissioners with having four persons from Revenue, RDD, Social Welfare and Store Keeper of Food and Supplies that will prepare a list of deserved beneficiaries, and same can be uploaded on NIC portal in order to bring the transparency.

“I don’t believe that people who are ineligible for PHH cards will voluntarily surrender ration tickets to the concerned departments, and all the responsibility lies with the government to take strong steps in this regard,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that NFSA was introduced by the Government of India in 2013. It is responsible for the provision of subsidized food grains to upto 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population of all states and Union Territories (UTs). 

The Act provides for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to an adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices for people to live a life with dignity and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.