Bandipora, June 29: Scores of Priority Household (PHH) ration card holders in Bandipora have expressed concern over the alleged inability to add new family members or transfer eligible beneficiaries into PHH ration cards, claiming that a quota cap has left many deserving families without access to food security benefits.
Several residents said they had completed all the required formalities and approached the concerned Tehsil Supply Office (TSO) seeking inclusion of newborn children and other eligible family members in their PHH ration cards. However, they alleged that officials informed them the requests could not be processed as the district’s sanctioned PHH quota had already been exhausted.
Among those affected is Ab Qayoom, a resident of Hajin, who said he had visited the TSO office several times to get his children added to his PHH ration card but was unsuccessful.
“I have completed all the required formalities, but every time I visit the office, I am told that no more beneficiaries can be added because the quota is full. At the same time, we hear allegations that influential people are still managing to get names included. The government should ensure equal treatment for all eligible families,” he said.
Residents said the inability to add newborns and other eligible family members has deprived several households of subsidised food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS), causing financial hardship, particularly for economically weaker families.
When contacted, Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD), Bandipora, Dr. Naseer, confirmed that the district’s PHH quota had been fully exhausted.
“The district has no remaining PHH quota. We cannot add new beneficiaries until additional quota is sanctioned. It is not within our authority. The additional quota has to be allocated by the Central Government, and once that happens, eligible beneficiaries can be included in PHH ration cards,” he said.
Residents have urged the Central and Jammu and Kashmir governments to enhance the PHH quota for Bandipora so that deserving families, including newborn children and other eligible members, are not deprived of their entitlements under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). They also called for a transparent mechanism to ensure that all eligible applicants receive benefits without discrimination.
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