New Delhi,July 09, (Scoop News)- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday met Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan here and discussed issues pertaining to the allotment of essential commodities including food grains by the Centre to the State.
Omar Abdullah highlighted the necessity of increasing the quota of food grains to the State to meet the demand of people particularly poor sections of the society and those living below the poverty line. He said that for a State like Jammu and Kashmir being deficit in the production of food grains and confronted with severe winters along with remoteness and inaccessibility of areas, there is highest need of buffer stocking of food grains, fuel, petroleum, k-oil and other essential items particularly in the areas which remain cut off from the towns and cities during the winter months.
It was stated in the meeting that Jammu and Kashmir is receiving 63067 tonnes of food grains per month as per projected population of the year 2000 for 18.02 lakh families whereas the State CAPD Department is distributing ration to 19.72 lakh families which results in a monthly shortfall of 5953 tonnes of food grains which has further widened due to increase in population from 101.44 lakh in 2001 to 125.49 lakh in 2011.
The Chief Minister said that under these circumstances the supply of essential commodities from the Centre should be adequate and regular so that there is no scarcity of essentials anywhere in the State.
The Chief Minister also discussed the issue of waiving of taxes imposed by SFC and sought separate quota of food grains for Kashmiri Migrants, Gujjars and Bakerwals as also for the welfare institutions.
The J&K State Minister for CAPD, Ch. Mohammad Ramzan and Commissioner Secretary, CAPD, Baseer Ahmad Khan were also present in the meeting.
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