Sheikh Nadeem / Waris Shah
In Larnoo area of Kokernag in this South Kashmir’s Islamabad (Anantnag) District, the Department of Consumer Affairs and Distribution has issued Above Poverty Line (APL) ration cards to various families living below the poverty line, depriving them of free rations has affected their daily livelihood.
Though the Government has taken steps to provide free rations for three months to alleviate the plight of poor families, many such people living in Kokernag, Mathandu, Gawran area in south Kashmir’s Islamabad (Anantnag) District while speaking to The Kashmiriyat alleging that their financial condition has deteriorated since the outbreak of Corona virus.
Saying that they are laborers by profession and hail from upper belt of larnoo, due to the lock-down, they are deprived of getting free rations. “The department placed us in the APL category without looking at the domestic situation, although we approached to apply for review and requested to enlist names on below poverty line and AAY we applied several times to the department on which the department also assured but to date no relief has reached us, due to which we have to buy rations at higher prices”, one such local told The Kashmiriyat.
The Locals appealed the District administration look into the matter as they face immense problems. “Kindly do not starve us to death, we are demanding food, we request the direct concerned authorities that all the beneficiaries must be included in the BPL list so that people may take advantage of various schemes in future provided by Government”, a Local said.
There is no scope, however to amend the list at present, an official of the CAPD said. He assured that a new survey order would be issued by the government and all the beneficiaries would be included in the BPL category.