A protest was staged by the residents of Nawa Kadal area in Srinagar district on Monday against the reduction in the rice quota and installation of smart meters in Jammu Kashmir.
Locals told The Kashmiriyat that on Monday afternoon scores of people raising slogans against the admin hit the streets in the Srinagar area and also blocked the roads.
“We are not begging to the administration. They (admin) are inconsiderate and do not understand what curbing down of the rice allotment quota means to Kashmiris. We are entirely dependent on rice,” a protesting woman said.
Rice allotment in Jammu Kashmir has been cut down from 15 kilograms per person in 2016 to 5 kilograms per person in 2023 for a month. Following the protests, LG Manoj Sinha recently announced allotment of 10 kilograms of rice per month for one ration card. The rice, he said, would be provided at subsidized rates.
However, locals said that the ten kilograms of rice is not sufficient for people. “I have twelve members in my family, and we do not eat anything other than rice. My family is getting an extra of 10 kilograms of rice for 12 members in a month. Now any sane person should answer, if that is enough?” she asked.
The locals also demanded a roll back of the order calling for the installation of smart meters, a move opposed by pro-establishment groups in Jammu Kashmir.
Political parties say that the New-Delhi backed administration has no mandate to impose laws upon Kashmiri residents as they do not have any elected lawmakers since 2018.
“Though there is hardly any electricity in our area, but the bills are highly inflated. What shall a poor person do. Shall we leave Kashmir? If that is the plan, we will not. We will live and die here. This is our Kashmir,” said another local woman.
The concerned electricity department of Jammu Kashmir has stated that the “Smart Meters” will not lead to inflated bills.
At least 27 protests have been reported from parts of Srinagar during the last month to demand the increase in the rice allotment quota and the rollback of order for installation of smart meters.