City residents complain of scarcity of essential items

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 26

The district administration on Thursday provided 1.25 lakh liters of milk, medicines and 3,206 quintals of fruits and vegetables to residents. Despite that, residents faced problems in getting medicines and vegetables in some parts of the city.

Though the administration issued several lists of chemists, milk and vegetable shop owners in the past two days, a shortage of essential items still persisted in the city.

Jasbir Jassi, a resident, said he has been visiting various areas to get medicines for her little daughter. Even visiting the Dilkhusha market, city’s biggest wholesale market, he hasn’t got the medicine.

While action was taken against the owner of a medical shop in the city for opening it on Wednesday, retailers complained that there is a shortage of essential medicines in the market.

Chemists have been running short of medicines of diabetes and blood pressure. Besides, there is also a shortage of insulin. Residents said many chemists whose numbers have been provided by the district administration are not picking up their calls. Due to a shortage of medicines, some chemists said they were forced to close their shops as customers argue with them when they express their helplessness in providing medicines.

Divya, a resident of Adarsh Nagar, said she tried to call up many chemists since morning, but no one responded.

Neha Khurana, a resident of Mission Compound, said, “A majority of the numbers is switched off. Many chemists pick up the call and tell us they are unable to deliver medicine because they don’t have the stock. Those in dire need of medicines or women need milk have no choice but to wait. The service of providing essential items on the doorstep needs to be streamlined. Going out of house is risky.”

Sandeep Singh, a resident of Model House, said, “I needed a medicine for my diabetic wife. But, I couldn’t contact any of the chemists whose numbers are provided. We need the medicine tomorrow.”

A chemist shop owner in the Nakodar Road area said, “I opened my shop for several hours, but I had to close it after customers exchanged arguments for not getting medicines. The stock was updated a day before the curfew. Since then, a majority of the medicines have been sold out.”

Meanwhile, chemists said there was a shortage of milk powder due to which many mothers were facing a very tough time in feeding toddlers.

However, administration officials said the supply of medicines was streamlined in the district by ensuring smooth coordination between chemists and residents.

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