As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, the residents across Kashmir have urged the elected government to regulate the prices of meat, vegetables, dates, and other essential items, citing concerns over arbitrary rates charged by butchers.
Consumers fear that without strict monitoring, the prices of mutton, dates, fruits, vegetables, and poultry may soar, which would make it difficult for many families to afford essential items for Iftar and Sehri.
“Every year, the prices of essentials like meat and vegetables shoot up, and there is no proper check on it in the month of Ramadan. The government must ensure that shopkeepers adhere to the fixed rates,” said Irfan Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar, while speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Locals and consumers also said that nobody is monitoring mutton prices, which are currently fixed at Rs 700 per kg. They said, however, that many butchers charge more, taking advantage of the increased demand.
“Last year, we had to buy mutton at multiple prices—some places at one rate and some places at another. This time, the government must act in advance to prevent such exploitation,” said Ghulam Nabi, a shopper from Baramulla.
Meanwhile, butchers stated that the price remains at Rs 700 per kg and that they will try to maintain it during Ramadan. “We are selling mutton at a fixed rate as of now, and we have not received any complaints about increased prices from anywhere,” said Mehraj ud Din, General Secretary of the Mutton Dealers Association Kashmir.
Officials within the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) admitted they are helpless in controlling prices. “We, too, are consumers and are witnessing the soaring prices in the market, but we are helpless,” an official said.
In June 2023, the Jammu Kashmir government revoked the “J&K Mutton (Licensing and Control) Order, 1973,” which had regulated mutton prices in the region for the past five decades.
At that time, the move came after the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, clarified that the legal basis for such regulation was no longer valid.
Since this decision, district administrations and enforcement agencies have lost control and can no longer issue or enforce price notifications for mutton.
Meanwhile, sources within the FCS&CA department told KNO that while the notification was issued across India, states like Delhi, which is both a national capital and a Union Territory, continue to regulate prices on a weekly basis.
“The Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department in Kashmir also wants to act on high prices, but the government is not showing any interest. Instead, it is allowing people to be exploited while acting like mute spectators,” they said. —(KNO)
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