Discriminatory decision of Admn making PDS consumers’ life miserable: Mula / Hari Singh

 Jammu: Former minister and senior Congress leader, Mula Ram along with DCC President Jammu Rural, Hari Singh Chib strongly criticized the government for allegedly providing PDS ration only to those people who have got Aadhaar cards in this critical time when the second wave of COVID pandemic has already made the life of people miserable. They said that it is a decision taken in haste by the government and needs to be rolled back immediately.

In a joint statement issued here today, the senior Congress leaders said that this decision of the government is without any justification especially in view of the fact that only 40 per cent of the consumers have yet got Aadhaar entries done while the rest are pending for the biometric purpose with the concerned department. “It means that sixty percent of the persons will be left fending for themselves without any ration at this critical juncture,” they said while demanding strict action against the guilty. They demanded that the government must provide ration to common masses as per the past practice.

Mula Ram said that today most of the Indian states are facing the second and very severe pandemic wave and in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir also the rapidly increasing positive cases and the rising death toll made the situation grim amidst an alarming situation. He said that it is ironic that at this moment when the common man is caught in an unprecedented crisis situation, the government instead of providing some respite and relief had further added to their woes by taking this decision that is bound to deprive sixty percent of the population of food grains thus leaving them to starve.

The Congress leaders alleged that they have already brought to the notice of authorities in governance this serious issue from time to time but in vain. They said that according to the aforesaid authoritiesonly 40% consumers Aadhar entries have been done for the biometric purpose of ration distribution by the department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, with some necessary corrections still pendingin most of the circles in case of the rest 60% consumers.   

Mula Ram and Hair Singh Chib appealed to the administration to suspend and put on hold the aforesaid decision at least till the situation reverts back to normal.                     

Moreover, it has been observed that only a few selected circles have been functioning online pattern as the portal of CAPD indicates that only circle numbers 1,2 and 3 falling in Jammu municipal limits have been selected, Hari Singh alleged. He castigated the department for the alleged partial, selective and very discriminatory approach resulting in hardship to a large numbers of consumers in getting their monthly ration quota.

Hari Singh urged the Lt Governor to look into matter personally and direct the concerned authorities for look into matter and suspend or put this decision on hold till the present pandemic crisis is over and put to task erring staff who failed for making 100 percent Aadhar entries for on line distribution.