1085 new ration outlets opened in JK in past two years

As many as 1085 new ration outlets were opened in Jammu and Kashmir during the past two years, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfikar Ali said today.
While 875 ration outlets were opened in Kashmir valley, 210 were opened in Jammu region, Ali said in a written reply in the Legislative Assembly.
He said 195 ration outlets were opened in Budgam district of Central Kashmir followed by 162 in Srinagar, 143 in Kupwara, 121 in Anantnag, 86 in Pulwama, 54 in Baramulla, 51 in Shopian, 47 in Bandiora and 16 in Kulgam.
In Jammu region, 115 ration outlets were opened in Rajouri district followed by 71 in Kathua, 11 in Jammu, eight in Reasi, two in Poonch and one each in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, he said.

No new ration outlet was opened in Kargil and Leh districts of Ladakh region, Ganderbal in Kashmir and Samba and Udhampur in Jammu region during the last two years, the minister said.
He said the commission for fair price shop dealers has been fixed at the rate of Rs 143 per quintal 25 per cent share is borne by the state government and 75 per cent by central government under priority household and AAY category.

Moreover, the state government is bearing 100 per cent commission at the rate of Rs 143 per quintal under non- priority household category including Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme, he said.

Ali said the state share of 25 per cent is being released regularly since inception of the National Food Security Act.
However, there is an outstanding of Rs 26.68 crore under central share which would be released as soon as the funds on this amount are received from the central government.
The minister said an amount of over Rs 54.89 crore was spent to provide free ration to migrant families in Jammu division during the past four years.
While Rs 9.2 crore was spent during 2014-15, Rs 8.90 crore was spent in 2015-16, RS 17 crore in 2016-17 and Rs 19.75 crore in 2017-18, he said.

In Kashmir division, he said a total of Rs 42.05 lakh were spent during 2016-17 (Rs 17.12 lakh) and 2017-18 (24.93 lakh).