J-K govt to give five kg rice per person under new scheme

In the wake of widespread protests over implementation of NFSA in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government has decided to provide additional five kg of rice per person under a new scheme, named after ex-chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, which would be implemented from July 1.
"From July this year, the state government will provide additional five kg of rice per person under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES)," Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said here today.
He said bona fide rationee would get five kg under NFSA scheme and five kg under MMSFES. Likewise, the family of two persons would get 10 kg under NFSA and 10 kg under MMSFES.

A family of three would be provided 30 kg food grains where 15 kg would be given under NFSA and 15 kg under MMSFES, he added.
For a family of four, 20 kg would be provided under NFSA and 15 kg under MMSFES, while 35 kg food grains would be given to a family of five where 25 kg would be provided under NFSA and 10 kg under MMSFES.
For a family of six, only five kg would be given under MMSFES and the rest 30 kg would be given as under NFSA scheme, the minister said, adding it essentially means that food grains would supplied at the old entitlement of 35 kg per family.

Giving the details about the prices for food distributed under MMSFES, Ali said one kg of rice would be sold at Rs 15, while atta is priced at Rs 13 per kg and wheat at Rs 12 per kg.

Previously the state used to procure 7.51 lakh metric tonnes of rice. However, with the introduction of MMSFES, the state would procure 12 lakh metric tones of food grains which would put an extra burden of Rs 400 crore on the state exchequer, he said.
To keep a check on on any kind of wrong doings in the department, the minister said, "GPS system would be installed in our trucks ferrying food grains. Surveillance cameras would also be installed at all fair price shops so that distribution of various food items can be monitored."

To improve the work culture in the department, Ali said, "Performers will get space in the department, while the non-performers will be shown the door."
He also said that the department plans to establish a scientific laboratory to check the quality of food grains in the Valley in near future.
"We are committed to provide quality food grains to our people. I assure you that in near future we would start a scientific laboratory where food grains would be approved after passing the set guidelines," he said.