Srinagar, Dec 21 (KNS): CPI (M) activists today held a massive protest demonstration in Kulgam district against the reduction in the food-grains quota to 5 kgs per head per month.
Hundreds of CPM workers led by its State Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Malik, termed the public outrage over food department circular that only 5-kgs of ration will be provided per family member each month as anti people.
The protesters demanded that the National Food Security Act (NFSA) be implemented in the state in light of the CPI (M) resolution on the subject that was unanimously adopted by the Legislative Assembly on 27.08.2014 for provision of 35 kgs ration to each family @ Rs.2/- per kg.
Addressing the party activists, Malik asked the government to revoke the anti-people order at an earliest and should take a decision that will accommodate the genuine demands of the people in the state.
He also rued over massive discrepancies in the database compiled by the CAPD in the state and termed it as step towards nurturing corruption and malpractices in the department.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Reminding the present dispensation about the private members’ resolution moved in 2014 by CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, the protesters sought provision of 35 kilograms of ration at Rs 2 per kg to each family. Malik also demanded inclusion of a large section of the society especially those born in 2011 and onwards who have been left outside the preview of subsidized ration sofar.
The CPI (M) state secretary sought chief minister’s intervention in allaying the apprehensions about the NFSA which people think will not only deprive them of the ages-old subsidy but would also affect a drastic cut into the quantities of rice and flour they used to get under the previous public distribution system.
He said that a substantial number of families have been left unregistered with CAPD and they are being forced to procure the ration from open market at un-affordable prices.
Senior CPM leaders Abdul Hamid Wani, Mohammad Amin Dar and Zahoor Ahmad Rather also addressed the demonstration. (KNS)