Anantnag: In an open discrimination to the poor section of the community, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) has failed to categorize them in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) while as the government employees and the close relatives of politicians have been catalogued in Below Poverty Line (BPL) at Hamzapora village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Locals alleged that government employees are getting ration at BPL rate while as the poor families who need to be categorized in Antadaya Anna Yojana (AAY) or BPL are getting ration as per the APL rates set by the department.

Locals said that a government teacher (name withheld) is holding BPL ration card on the name of his son who is yet to get unmarried while as Mohd Ashraf, a poor man deserving AAY is getting rations as per the APL rates.

They said that Ashraf is not only example of such case but several other persons who belong to poor families are getting ration as per the APL rates.

Shareefa bano, a local resident of the village said that the authorities failed to look into their sufferings. “We approached to them in this regard but unfortunately nothing has been done in this regard,” she said.

She added that nepotism is at its peak as families belong to rich section and the persons close to politicians are getting the benefit.

Other women of the area echoed the same view, saying these politicians have benefitted their close relatives and friends, while “poor” families are struggling for basic amenities.

Subzar Ahmad, a local resident said that the condition at public ration depots is worst as the people complained that some people close to local politicians are enjoying ration cards of BPL category while as “genuine” BPL or AAY families are being pushed to the walls.

Ahmad added that dozens of families are not provided ration at government depots because they weren’t given ration cards till date, while as every influential family has been sanctioned more than two ration cards.

“Ration cards meant for economically poor families under AAY scheme have been distributed among well-off people and deserving were left,” he said.

Besides, the locals also alleged that the person holding BPL ration cards are being given Sugar at depots while the deserving section is being forced to buy sugar in the markets at high rates.

Director FCSCA Kashmir, Nisar Ahmed said that those deserving who have been catalogued in APL should contact him. “I will look into the matter and strict action will be taken against concerned officials if the allegations will be found true,” he said.

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