Pandits continue protest against Food Act

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, March 28

Displaced Kashmiri Pandits continue their protest against the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). They are demanding that relief holders among the community should be kept out of the purview of the Act.

Protesters alleged that the NFSA was totally anti-people as it had curtailed ration being supplied to the people living in camps. Addressing the gathering, Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) president Shadi Lal Pandita said till the Hindus from the Valley were not rehabilitated permanently they should be provided with ration as per earlier scale.

Before the implementation of the Food Act, displaced Pandits were receiving 9 kg rice, 2 kg flour per person per month and 1 kg sugar per family per month under the relief category. Nearly 17,248 families living in Jammu are covered under this category and also receive financial assistance.

“Most of the families receiving ration under the relief category are dependent on cash assistance provided by the government and curtailing their ration will create a lot of problems for them. There is a lot of resentment against the Act,” said Sushil Raina, a resident of Jagti.

They also appealed to the government for the early release of the pending ration quota of February and March on the previous scale. Pandita threatened to further intensify the agitation if their demands were not met.