It is heartening that following the announcement made by the government of India about distribution of foodgrains, free of cost to NFSA beneficiaries (AAY & PHH) from 1st January 2023, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has also commenced distribution of the foodgrains among AAY and PHH beneficiaries.
In tune with the Central Government’s decision, J&K’s Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has commenced free distribution of food grains (rice and wheat) to AAY and PHH beneficiaries from 1st January 2023 across Jammu & Kashmir.
The authorities at the helm of affairs in the Department have issued instructions to the field officers, NIC Team and Technical Teams to incorporate the fresh changes in IT system, e-POS applications and PDS so as to ensure free of cost distribution of rice and wheat to AAY & PHH beneficiaries under NFSA in J&K from 1st January 2023.
While distribution of rice and wheat would be absolutely free, Rupee 1 would be charged for wheat flour per kg as conversion charges, with applicable conversion loss, where wheat flour is provided to beneficiaries instead of wheat.
Earlier the reports about curtailment of ration among the deserving categories of the society were opposed by many political parties who had apprehended exposure of thousands of poor households to crippling impact of market forces.
Had the government not reviewed its decision, it would have impacted the nutritional demands of nearly seventeen lakh families and put them at the hazard of market forces across Jammu and Kashmir. Such a measure would have induced inflation of food grains.
There is an overwhelming majority of those at the bottom of the pyramid who cannot withstand market pulls. Besides announcing free ration for the poor, the government should see to it that the quota of ration is sufficient to fulfill the needs of a household. This has become important in wake of the COVID-19 that has left a legacy of rising poverty and widening inequality among the masses.
