Minister Satish Sharma announced the government’s commitment to eliminating fraudulent ration cards through ongoing verification processes.
The General Administration Department (GAD) has initiated a beneficiary verification to ensure a clean and reliable Public Distribution System (PDS) database, following directives from the Government of India.
The verification aims to include genuine beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) while removing ineligible ones.
The NFSA provides 35 kg of free food grains to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and 5 kg to Priority Household (PHH) beneficiaries monthly.
The order issued by the GAD for verification of beneficiaries shall be put on hold.
Funding for Gujjar, Bakarwal, and Pahari Hostels:
Rs. 1833.40 lakh has been allocated for Gujjar and Bakarwal hostels in Jammu and Kashmir for the current financial year (2024-25), supporting 3000 students across 28 hostels.
Rs. 294.00 lakh has been released for Pahari hostels, accommodating 700 inmates in 9 hostels.
The Pahari Board has requested an increase in diet/food charges due to rising commodity prices.
Rs. 541.18 lakh was released for Scheduled Tribes welfare in the Rajouri Constituency, with Rs. 328.63 lakh already spent on projects like an Eklavya Model Residential School and infrastructure development.
76 ongoing projects, worth Rs 270.75 lakh, under UT CAPEX are being executed under the Tribal Plan in Rajouri.
Expanding Fair Price Shops:
The government plans to establish 1600 new Fair Price Shops across Jammu and Kashmir to enhance the Targeted Public Distribution System.1
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1600 new fair price shops to be opened in 20 districts: Satish Sharma – greaterkashmir
Elected members will be involved in the process of setting up these shops, with priority given to underserved panchayat areas.
Food grains are distributed according to NFSA entitlements, with an additional 10 kg provided to eligible PHH households under the J&K government’s PMFSS scheme.
A proposal exists in the 2025-26 Annual Financial Statement to provide extra free food grains to AAY households.
Beneficiary details are available on the RCMS portal (rcms.jk.gov.in), though the department doesn’t maintain separate update lists.
