Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, IT, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, and Science & Technology, Satish Sharma, on Tuesday met Union Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, B. L. Verma, and raised a wide-ranging set of issues aimed at strengthening the Public Distribution System (PDS) and improving food security in the Union Territory.
During the meeting, Sharma strongly pushed for the removal of the cap on food grain allocation under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). He said the current restriction has made it difficult to split ration cards, especially for families that have grown over time, leaving many without adequate coverage. He urged the Centre to revise Jammu and Kashmir’s quota so that new and bifurcated ration cards can be issued, and sought additional food grain allocation, particularly for people living in remote, border and tribal areas.
Highlighting the UT’s preparedness, Sharma said processes like e-KYC verification and database clean-up are nearly complete, and called for faster approval of pending ration card applications.
He also flagged infrastructure gaps in the PDS, especially in high-altitude and snowbound regions, and sought a dedicated grant to strengthen the system in such difficult terrains. Raising concerns about fair price shop (FPS) dealers, he called for an increase in their margins to ensure viability and reduce dropouts. He further proposed that essential commodities like pulses, edible oil and millets be supplied through FPS outlets with central support.
Sharma pointed to Jammu and Kashmir’s progress in implementing the SMART PDS framework and sought performance-based incentives, noting that the UT has been an early adopter of digital systems such as RCMS, SCMS and route optimisation.
Focusing on vulnerable groups, he raised the issue of integrating ration cards of Kashmiri migrants to ensure uninterrupted access to entitlements. He also pitched for special provisions for border residents and nomadic communities, including Gujjars and Bakerwals, suggesting more flexible e-KYC norms to accommodate their mobility.
On the consumer affairs front, the Minister called for modernising Legal Metrology infrastructure with better testing equipment and additional manpower, especially in far-flung districts. He also sought enhanced funding for consumer awareness campaigns in rural and semi-urban areas under the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).
Under social justice initiatives, Sharma emphasised the need for timely release of funds under PM-AJAY and other schemes, including scholarships for SC, OBC and EWS students. He also urged the Centre to expedite the inclusion of Pahari and other deserving communities in central OBC or deprived category lists. Additionally, he sought approval for new hostels under the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana in districts such as Jammu, Samba, Udhampur and Rajouri.
On administrative matters, Sharma requested the release of pending central assistance and instalments under centrally sponsored schemes. He also called for capacity-building support for officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department, particularly in areas like data analytics, supply chain management and enforcement.
Reaffirming the UT government’s commitment to efficient service delivery and inclusive welfare, Sharma expressed hope that the Centre would respond positively to these demands and extend the necessary support.
