Q. Lately, people have been complaining about the price hike in vegetables. How the department issues rate list of vegetables and fruits for both local vegetable sellers and non-locals.

We have issued rate list for both local and nonlocal vegetable sellers. Three years back we did issue rate list to local vegetable sellers but they protested and refused to follow the rate list. Even now, they do not follow the rate being fixed by CAPD Department. Local vegetable sellers claim that sometimes they sell vegetables at a rate much lower than the rate list during summers and that is why they do not follow rate list provided by us. We allow the nonlocal vegetable sellers to take 5 rupees extra as they bring it from Srinagar and the public has no objection with it. But we do not allow them for the price hike in any case. This winter we did not issue the rate list to non-local vegetable sellers because the vegetable and fruits rate was cheaper than last year and there was ample quantity available as well. So did not issue rate list.

We have issued rate list for meat as well. It is 370 per kg, but people do not complain even if the butcher does not give pure meat and mix huge fats with it. 

Rate list for summers for 2014 and 2015 for vegetables and fruits in the Leh market and its surrounding areas with immediate till further notice:

Q. Many people who do not belong to Below Poverty Line holds a BPL card. What are the criteria for issuing BPL card and what steps are being taken to keep a check that only deserving household gets a BPL card.

Leh district has 7150 BPL families. Under BPL, the thrust is to include the really poor and vulnerable sections of the society. BPL card is issued to families having monthly income below Rs. 1200 and at least five family members. We do not issue direct BPL card to any family, first, the household needs to purchase the ration on the basis of APL card for six months. And after that their card is converted to BPL. People apply for BPL card not for ration but for other benefits that are provided by the government like in electricity bills, health-related insurances etc.

Q. Could you explain the difference in rates on various commodities between a BPL card holder and an APL Cardholder and others? 

We are getting the ration as per census 2001. According to which the total population of Leh was 106240 but now the population is around 150000. The population has increased and we still get ration on the basis of the population of 2001 census which is very low in today’s date. 

We get yearly allocation of Kerosene from the state. This year we have 80 liters of Kerosene per card. 

Q. Who issues the BPL card to families?

There is a committee comprising of Tehsildar, Block Development Officer and concern Inspector CAPD who issue BPL card and also does the verification needed during the process. After every five years, these committee members check the increase in number of family members and the economic status of the family. Senior citizens who are above 65 years get 5 kg atta and 5 kg rice extra free of cost. 

Q. What is the process of issuing ration card to a family? 

Ration card is issued on the basis of Urban (Tongsep) and Rural (Tongkher) area. In the rural areas ration card is issued by Tehsil Supply Officer and in urban areas it is issued by Assistant Director CAPD Leh. It takes 30 days to complete all the formalities and procedures. In the case of changes in the ration card, we send it to Deputy Director Srinagar. It is very necessary to register the name of newborn children in the ration card and it takes only seven days for that procedure.

Q. How many BPL, APL and other cardholders are there in Leh?

Total we have issued around 26000 ration card in Leh district.  As per 2011 census, there are 7150 households in Leh with BPL card and 2000 household who have applied for BPL card is still pending. 16535 families have Above Poverty Line Card, 2150 families have Antodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) and 206 families hold Annapurna Card.

Q. Are there any families who still do not have a ration card? If yes, why they have not been provided so far?

There are 2500 families who do not have the ration card in Leh. We are not able to issue them ration card because it needs to get approved from Srinagar. We have sent it for approval and it will be done soon. New ration cards are not issued to any district of the state till now.

Q. How challenging it is to arrange fuels and other necessary items during winters when the road gets closed?

We do not face much trouble as we keep a stock of all the necessary items during summers only so to avoid any kind of inconveniences or shortages.

Q.  What is the stock position of CAPD Leh?

Present 2015 stock position is rice 25000 quintal, sugar 1100 quintal, 3000 quintal atta, 1269 kilolitre petrol, 1740 kilolitre kerosene, 4363 KL diesel, 720 Metric ton gas liquid, 29833 filled LPG cylinders at HP.

Q. How often does your department organize awareness programmes for people? How often do people file the complaint of price hikes?

We regularly organize awareness camp and try to educate the masses regarding the importance of checking MRPs and ISI mark. We got around 7 complaint cases in the past and all of them got resolved. We charge the shopkeepers fine if they sell commodities at very high prices.

 Message to the readers

I appeal all the people to understand their consumer rights and complain if they see any shopkeepers asking for money more than the fixed price. Public must check the MRPs and expiry date before purchasing any product.