Bhat Yasir
In Baramulla, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department issued a circular, asking the families who aren’t eligible for subsidized ration, to surrender their ration tickets or face action.
In past years too, ‘Reverification of Ration cards’ like orders were issued but no reverification process took place on the ground in the district. However, sources said that in many areas of the district, reverification was being carried on.
The circular which has been issued on 06/01/2022, under vide no. ADFCS&CA/Bla/2022/53-56, reads as, “In view of the circular issued by the department of FSC&CA Kashmir vide No. DFCS&CAK/Plg/2154-79, dated 07/07/2021 regarding voluntarily surrender of PHH ration cards whose socio-economic condition has improved either through acquiring of Government Job or through either other means rendering them ineligible for receiving subsidized ration under AAY/PHH categories, all such families/households/ration ticket holders are hereby advised to voluntarily surrender their ration ticket (AAY/PHH).”
“In light of above instructions from Directorate FCS&CA Kashmir, all government employees who are living in a joint family (Family who lives under a common roof and having common kitchen or chullah shall be treated as joint family) are informed to surrender the PHH/AAY ration card (if any). In any case, if it was found that the Govt. employee jst living in a joint family (PHH/AAY) with the additional separate card in his/her name, he/she will be personally responsible and it will be treated as a criminal act. Such cases will be forwarded to the concerned authorities for appropriate action,” it further reads.
Meanwhile, Assistant Director FSC&CA Department, Baramulla, Sheikh Tariq told The Kashmiriyat that “National Food Security Act ( NFSA) which includes PHH ( Priority Household) & AAY ration categories was implemented in 2015-16. Over the years, socio-economic condition of many families in NFSA changed by either getting into government job or by other economic means, which makes them ineligible for NFSA categories.”
He also added, “Accordingly, they must surrender their cards if they are living in a joint family, otherwise strict action will be taken.”
When asked about the re-verification of the ration cards in the district, he said “Verification is being done simultaneously by the Tehsildars concerned. This is in addition to that.”