JK UT government comply with directions of central government on fixations of rates of mutton and chicken by retailer’s says Director Food Rifat Kohli
Mohd Irfan
After centres government nod that the fixation of prices of mutton and chicken in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to be no longer fixed by the department of Food civil supplies and consumer Affairs rather by the traders and retailer’s of the mutton and chicken.
Now, few days left for the auspicious Eid ul azha where in Muslims having sufficient means cast obligations on them to sacrifice the animals in the name of Allah coupled with in order to uphold the tradition of Ibrahim ale islam. Eid ul Azha this year coming on 29th of June 2023.
In the backdrop of the news that the Department of food civil supplies no longer fixed the rate of prices of mutton and prices this has evoked sharp reaction from the consumers.
“As we heard that the Department of Food civil supplies not fixed the rate of mutton and chicken this would be really arbitrary rather you can say it would drill hole in the pockets of the gullible consumers for the reasons these retailer’s fixed the rates at their whims and fancies”, said Shafiq, one of the consumer rued while taking a jibe against the government for becoming pro retailer’s meaning there by favours the traders.
Another consumer, Rehana of Ustad Mohalla lamented that if the retailer’s fixed the rate of mutton and chicken they would surely fixed at exorbitant price that would put additional burden on the pockets of the gullible consumers. As presently mutton being sold at Rs 600 per kg and in the ensuing Eid it will enhance to Rs 700 per kg. The moot question being what necessitated the central government to cancelled the earlier order of vested the powers with Department of food civil supplies and consumer Affairs to fixed the prices of mutton and chicken”She asserted while unequivocally condemned the move of the central government and seek the revocation of the order as it would affected the budget of the middle men in particular.
“We buy the mutton at the rate of Rs 600 per kg in Jammu which also being looks costly to the middle men and if there takes place further increase in the prices of mutton as it has been heard powers of fixation vested with the retailer’s then surely this mutton become not part of the kitchen of the common men. These retailer’s at the drop of the hat rued that they incurred losses on account of meagre rate being fixed by the department rather they say flawed prices fixed by the department at their whims. Now, as the powers transferred to the retailer’s how much rate they will fixed that time will tell but central government required to revisit this hasty decision taken by them in the interest of the public at large”, Advocate Iram maintained, while urging the government to provide relief to the gullible masses who are already shedding under great load of sky rocketing prices.
“This is a glaring instance that government succumbs to the pressure tactics of these retailer’s and left the gullible consumers in lurch. Till now there is no notification of rate lists came either from department or from the retailer’s go whom powers vested. This has put the gullible consumers under tight spot. As Eid fixed for Thursday as such till now there should have been notification of rates of mutton so that consumers get abreast with the same and they don’t get fleeced by the butchers”, one of the Social Activist on the condition of anonymity rued.
Now, there is need a clarity in regards to the fixation of the prices by whom. Scribe in question contacted the Director Food Civil supplies Jammu in this regard so that consumers came to know. It is pertinent to mention here in Jammu and Kashmir administration has annulled the (J&K mutton) licensing control order 1973 in response to the advice of the central government and prohibited the authorities from controlling and selling the pricing of livestock mutton and poultry. The government has immediately cancelled the Jammu and Kashmir mutton (licensing and control order) 1973 published in SRO 646 on December 12
