People of several areas of Srinagar on Tuesday staged protest against the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Inhabitants of Soura took to streets against NFSA calling it “anti-people.”
A complete shutdown was observed in the area while shops and other business establishments remained closed till late afternoon.
The protestors erected barricades on roads affecting vehicular movement in the area. The protestors chanted anti-NFSA and anti-government slogans.
“The authorities are not coming clear over the issue. How can a family live on five kilograms of rice. Even doctors recommend 11 kilograms per individual per month. NFSA is anti-poor and anti-people,” the protestors said.
However, in late afternoon, the protestors dispersed when a senior official reached the spot assuring that their grievances would be addressed soon.
Similar protests were held in other parts of the city including Batwara, Shivpora and Batamaloo localities.
People of Dhobi Mohalla, New Colony, Diyarwani area of Batamaloo took out a procession towards main Batamaloo bus stand and blocked the main road.
The protestors demanded rollback of the NFSA. “We will launch an agitation if the authorities failed to revoke it,” the protestors said.
People of Shivpora disallowed distribution of ration. “Last month around 30 families did not get any ration. So we did not allow ration distribution this month,” said Gulzar Ahmed, a local, who gets his monthly ration from Shivpora-B depot.
“Our demand to the authorities is to issue us ration as per our requirements. Around one decade ago, we used to get 13 kilograms per head and then it was reduced to 30 kg and now 5 kg. This is a sheer injustice with us,” he said.
Some days ago, the residents said that officials of another depot Shivpora-A refused to unload monthly ration truck and sent it back to the CAPD godown.
The protests were also held at Batwara where a large number of consumers also took to the streets against NFSA.
The protesters comprising a large number of women formed a human chain to stop the vehicular movement.
The protestors alleged that instead of five kgs of ration per head, the depot officials distribute four kgs. “We won’t allow them to open the depot,” Javed Ahmed, a resident said.
“We are eight members in family, what will I do with four kilograms? We will continue the protests until the government announces rollback of NFSA,” said Khatija Begum, an aged woman.
The Batwara residents threatened to block Srinagar-Jammu highway if their demands were not met at the earliest.
Pertinently, the state government led by Governor NN Vohra recently announced enhancement in monthly ration quota from five kilograms per head to seven kilograms.
The NFSA was implemented in J&K on February 15, this year.
The law guarantees five Kg ration per person for a month. Protests have been continuing across the Valley against the Act, with consumers demanding the ration as per the old scheme, which guaranteed 35 kilos of rice to every household.
