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| CAPD minister shifts focus from ration to IP cameras | | "How come a poor man who has to wait for hours together in serpentine queues outside CAPD stores to get ration would get benefitted is a million dollar question, which the Minister only can answer." | | Fazal Khan
ET Report
srinagar, June 3: The cash starved Jammu and Kashmir government is mulling to install Internet Protocol (IP) cameras in CAPD stores across JK to plug pilferages. One wonders is checking the pilferage at this point of time a priority or is providing ration the need of the hour?
It seems the CAPD Minister Chaudary Zulfkar Ali believes that installing IP cameras would help in providing ration to needy people and would stop the elements who "loot" food grains meant for poor people. It looks like wishful thinking.
There is no harm in experimenting as long as money is available but to hold experiments when there is shortage of funds is not advise-able. Someone needs to ask the CAPD Minister where would funds come from to install cameras across JK? "Rather than installing cameras the CAPD minister should have given a thought to increase the ration quota for the people living Below the Poverty Line and improve the quality of the food grains provided to poor people," said an analyst.
He said the installation of cameras across CAPD stores would cost a fortune and many people from suppliers to installers would get benefitted due to this project. "How come a poor man who has to wait for hours together in serpentine queues outside CAPD stores to get ration would get benefitted is a million dollar question, which the Minister only can answer," the analyst added.
The pathetic condition of the CAPD stores across JK is an ample proof of how poorly the department has been managed during all these years. One can found dirty sacks and rats in most of the CAPD stores across JK. There have been instances about CAPD officials after dumping food grains forget about the stock. Allegations about ration meant for poor people being sold in an open market keep on surfacing every other day.
Recently a scandal involving the CAPD officials surfaced in north Kashmir's Pattan area, when people located a house containing food grains in the area. Locals became suspicious after pungent smell of dead rats spread in the area. Had locals not acted there was every possibility of Plague like epidemic spreading in the area.
Critics believe that the decision to install IP cameras in the CAPD stores is not going to help anyone's cause and it would put extra burden on the state exchequer. "The government is already struggling with the finances as most treasuries in the state are empty. The bills of contractors have not been cleared till date. There is no money to compensate flood victims, there are no life saving drugs available in the hospitals and there are many issues which need to be addressed," said a critic.
He suggested the CAPD minister should focus on ensuring that food grains reach the far-flung areas and its distribution should be streamlined. "Money should be spent on increasing the ration quota and help those people who are poor and needy rather than installing cameras. If the Minister wants to check the ration pilferage he should act against the corrupt elements present within the department to send a strong message that corruption cannot be tolerated," the critic added.
He claimed that installation of the IP cameras would provide a chance to "corrupt officials" to mint money and seek commission from the suppliers. "To have IP cameras in CAPD outlets is not an impressive idea. There are burning issues which need to be addressed rather than taking such steps that can backfire," the critic added. |
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