Question : RATION TO KARGIL VICTIM ON FREE OF COST

(a) whether the Union Government have asked the Kargil and Jammu administration to provide free of cost ration to the Kargil conflict affected families till May 2000;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government propose to provide free of cost ration to the farmers of Purvanchal area of Uttar Pradesh who have not got the payments of their sugarcane from the sugar mills till now;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f) the effective plan is being prepared or proposed to be prepared by the Union Government to elevate and salvage such farmers who are on the verge of starvation?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )

(a) & (b) : As part of the relief package announced by the Prime Minister, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir sanctioned in October,1999 free ration at the scale of 9 kg of foodgrains per person per month; and 10 litre of kerosene per family per month for six months in case of displaced persons of Jammu and Kashmir province; and upto May, 2000 in case of displaced persons of Leh and Kargil who suffered due to firing from across the border. The cost of relief package, including free foodgrains, has been estimated by the State Government at Rs.35 crores. Out of this, an advance of Rs.24.80 crores has already been released by the Central Government to the Government of Jammu & Kashmir.


(c) No, Sir.

(d) Does not arise.

(e) A quantity of 1.61 lakh quintals of sugarcane was received from the farmers of Bansgaon parliamentary constituency by the sugar mill at Ghoshi upto 15.2.2000, the cost of which was Rs.134.76 lakh. Out of this, 44.18 lakh has been paid to the farmers and the sugar mill is taking action for payment of the balance amount.

(f) Union Government allots foodgrains for Targetted Public Distribution System (TPDS) as per TPDS Guidelines. Additional allocations of foodgrains on demand are also made to State Governments from time to time for calamity relief, in floods, drought, cyclone etc. subject to resource constraints.