Srinagar: A four-and-a-half kg rice and a half kg atta per person for Below Poverty Line (BPL) cardholders is very inadequate and not enough for these families to sustain their livelihood. This quota fixed does not last two to four days and the people do not want such relief anymore and would rather prefer paying for this relief as was demonstrated when they hit the streets in protest from all corners. This was stated by Awami National Conference (ANC) Senior Vice President Muzzafar Shah on Monday.
“The government must immediately consider reverting back to the practice followed by the earlier state government that gave a 11 kg rice per person to BPL card holders that ensures that these families which are unfortunately in huge numbers are not left starving when on the other hand thousands of crores are being spent on Smart City project in J&K. What is the use of such projects when a huge population does not have resources to get a square meal,” Shah questioned.
“The ANC Sr VP impressed upon both the LG administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs to take a leaf out of the administrations of the late Sher-e-Kashmir and the late GM Shah that provided a 11 kg rice, 1 kg sugar, 2 kg atta (per family member), 3 kg charcoal (per family), 10 kg firewood (per person), 5 kg edible oil (per family), 10/15 litres kerosene oil (per family) along with a specific quantity of cloth and salt to every family living under poverty lines through their ration cards,” the ANC statement said, adding, “If those government could manage that with great efficiency and transparency, what stops the present dispensation in reverting back to those guidelines that ensured that no soul remained unfed in the state of J&K.”
Cautioning the LG administration, the ANC Sr VP said that anger is brewing in the people particularly while passing through the month of holy Ramadan & their patience may not be tested any further as they would hit the streets in protest if corrective actions not taken.
“The ANC will be forced to give a call for a Kashmir shutdown if this critical issue is not resolved forthwith and the people will be left with no option but to observe a complete shutdown,” Shah said.
“We hope that the LG administration will take heed of the matter brought to their notice and ensure a respectable livelihood for people living under poverty lines by providing enough ration, etc to feed their families. This is the least expected of the ministry of Home Affairs and the LG administration,” the ANC Sr VP said.