28,996 new ration cards issued after 2022 in J&K: Govt

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday informed that the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) has issued 74,071 new ration cards since September 2022, ensuring the inclusion of left-out households.

In response to a question by MLA Rajiv Jasrotia, the minister incharge, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that government has taken consistent measures to bring all left-out eligible families under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

"Since the transition to the Ration Card Management System (RCMS) in September 2022, 28,996 new ration cards have been issued under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and 45,075 under the Non-Priority Household (NPHH) category, ensuring that eligible households are not deprived of benefits," the department stated.

The government also said that the distribution network currently consists of 6,630 sale outlets, including Fair Price Shops (FPS) and Government Sale Centres.

It said that it is contemplating the opening of new Fair Price Shops (FPS) under the Jammu and Kashmir Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order 2023, especially in panchayats without such facilities.

"The government has also decided to involve elected members to identify and firm up the requirements for new Fair Price Shops across Jammu and Kashmir. This process will prioritize opening outlets in areas that meet the criteria as per policy," it said.

Regarding the augmentation of ration supplies for the Above Poverty Line (APL) category, it said that food grains are provided to beneficiaries under the Non-Priority Household (NPHH) category at a scale of 5 kg per person per month. The approved sale rates stand at Rs 15 per kg for rice, Rs 12 per kg for wheat, and Rs 13 per kg for wheat flour—(KNO)