Srinagar Feb 13 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar on Monday said the people of Srinagar are suffering on account of the government's callous approach, saying  people find it very difficult to work their way through the hierarchies in bureaucratic setup to have their grievances addressed.

Sagar said this while addressing a number of public and worker's delegations that had called on him at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar. 

The delegations were from Soura, Khanyar, Hazratbal, Dal, Dal Gate, and other areas of the Srinagar city and apprised him about their pressing grievances including erratic power supply, shortage of water supply, and issuance of substandard rice at the FCSCA run fair price stores. 

Concurring with the issues raised by the visiting delegations, Sagar said, “There are numerous instances, where people have protested against the distribution of substandard rice and wheat at ration stores. There is no cognizance of the public complaints with regards to the distribution of poor quality of ration. Concerned department isn't taking any action to verify the complaints.” 

Alluding to soaring urban poverty, he said that the urban poverty in Srinagar was another stark reality, which could not be undermined. “Thousands of households, particularly those of daily wagers, artisans, marginal traders, and those engaged in the private sector are facing hardships due to penury induced by loss of jobs and slump in the economic activity. Scores of such families are not able to arrange two square meals for their families,” Sagar added.(KNS)