Srinagar: Braving cold weather conditions, people in several areas of the city Monday hit the streets against the decrease in monthly ration quota even for the priority sector consumers (those falling under BPL category).
Demanding adequate ration supply, people in Mehjoornagar, Padshahi Bagh, Sonwar, and Nawpora areas took to the roads and staged a protest against the government’s decision to reduce the ration quota.
Protesters, mainly women, were shouting slogans against the government for allegedly making poor people suffer by reducing the ration quota to a mere five kg per soul per month.
They appealed to the government to revoke the decision which they alleged has added to their woes.
Protesters said they were receiving a 10-kilogram ration per soul till December last year; however, the government has reduced the quota by five kilograms from January 2023.
“How could the government, which keeps on claiming to have made the lives of the people of Kashmir better, be so mean? How could they deprive poor people of their basic need – food,” Hajira, a protester, told reporters.
Ali Mohammad, another protester, said the government should seriously think of the poor people who have always been the worst victims of inflation.
“We appeal to the government to either provide 10 kg rice to BPL cardholders a month or stop fooling people. We cannot afford to buy rice from the open market. We appeal to the government to address this food crisis,” he added.
When contacted, Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Abdul Salam Mir told ‘Kashmir Images’ that the matter has already been taken up with the government and that the issue will be resolved at the earliest.
“I am aware of the problems that people face and I have already taken up the matter with the government. I hope this issue will be resolved at the earliest,” the director added.
