Srinagar, Jan 6 (GNS): The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Friday expressed concern over curtailment of ration quota to consumers, saying the measure will impact lakhs of families across J&K.
In a statement released from the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, party’s State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said the undue measure will expose thousands of poor households to crippling impact of market forces. “The decision of the government to curtail the ration will magnify the woes of AAY, PHH & Non-NFSA. It will impact the nutritional demands of nearly seventeen lakh families and put them at the hazard of market forces. Such a measure will induce inflation of food grains. There is an overwhelming majority of those at the bottom of the pyramid who cannot withstand market pulls. I hope the administration will reconsider the decision and provide relief to the poor in the best tradition of ours being a welfare state,” he said.
On the announcement of free ration to all beneficiaries under Section 3 of the NFSA, Imran said, “The question is will free ration for the poor fill their plates enough? The current quota of ration is very less. This became important in wake of the COVID-19 that had left a legacy of rising poverty and widening inequality. At this time when our transporters, artisans, labourers and hawkers are contending with a deeper and long lasting crises left by post 5 August clamp down and successive Covid lock downs, government’s mission should be to reverse deepening inequalities and looking after the dietary demands of people. I hope the administration will increase the quota.” (GNS)