By: Ahmad Shabir
Srinagar: With Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) authorities failing to enforce the rates fixed by it for poultry, the chicken prices in the market have skyrocketted. The retailers are selling the chicken at Rs 175 to Rs 180.

The overpricing has led to shortage of broiler chicken in many areas with people accusing the authorities of failing to keep a check on the rates.

The government two months ago had fixed the rates for broiler chicken at Rs 125 per kg while as the rates for mutton have been fixed at Rs 535. The strike by the meat sellers had led to the meat crisis in the Valley for several months.

Though the meat crisis came to an end recently after the mutton dealers agreed to sell the meat at the government fixed rates.

However, the poultry sellers seem to be giving no damn to about the government rates. People from various areas of south Kashmir, including Kulgam, Anantnag, Kokernag, Shopian, Pahalgam, Bijbehara and Pulwama complained that the chicken sellers have no regard for the rates fixed by the government.

The broiler chicken, they complained is sold at the rate of Rs 170 to Rs 180. “I bought a broiler chicken on Saturday which weighed about 2 kgs. I was charged Rs 350 for it. When I argued with the chicken seller and asked him about the government rates he clearly told me to complain to the government against the whole sellers who actually have hiked the rates,” said Abdul Majid from Bijbehara.

Another resident from Pulwama, Mushtaq Ahmad accused the authorities concerened of failing to check the violation of government fixed rates for poultry.

“For last ten days the chicken rates continue to witness hike in the market. Five days ago i purchased broiler chicken at the rate of 160 per kg and today i bought it at the rate of 170. In villages the skyrocketting of poultry has led to shortage of chicken while as in townships FCSCA authorities seem to be least bothered about the overcharging,” Ahmad said.

A chicken seller, Jahansher Bashir said that he is getting the broiler chicken at the rate of 160 rupees in wholesale.

“I am selling it at rupees 170 which means that i am earning rupees 10 per kg. After i had exhausted my stock last week i did not make fresh purchase for five days and decided to wait till the rates come down. But as the rates further went up i was left with no option but keep the chicken available at the same rates,” Jahansher said.

If authorities, he said, want to regulate the prices of the broiler chicken, they should act against the wholesale dealers.

Director FCSCA, Kashmir, did not respond to repeated calls from Precious Kashmir. However, an Assistant director, admitted that the chicken rates have been illegally hiked by the dealers.

“We are receiving complaints from many areas and we are going to act tough against the dealers and retailers selling chicken at higher rates,” the officer said.

By: Ahmad Shabir

Anantnag: Amid surge in covid cases and doctors strictly advising the authorities to ban gatherings and entry of people to tourist spots, the doctors from microbiology department of government medical college (GMC) Anantnag on Monday enjoyed picnic at Pahalgam leaving the department at the mercy of two technicians only.

The permission to the doctors and Para-medics of the department was interestingly granted by the principal of the medical college.

Sources said that at least twelve staff members of the department including all the doctors and Para-medics ahead of Ramadan (month of fasting) on Monday chose to enjoy picnic at Pahalgam without having any regard for the advises and suggestions of health experts to the people after the second wave of covid hit India.

The microbiology department of GMC takes care of diaganostic part of the hospital and as been carrying out RT-PCR for covid since the pandemic broke out.

A doctor posted in the hospital expressed surprise and shock over the doctors of the department chosing a picnic at a time hospitals are flooded with covid cases.

“One wonders how the head of the department and other senior doctors preferred picnic over duties that too amid major surge in covid cases. Their going to picnic puts a question mark on the credibility of doctors also as they have been asking people to stay home and avoid crowded places,” the doctor said.

Another doctor in the hospital said that the doctors had gone to picnic with the proper permission of the principal.

“Principal allowing around a dozen doctors and Para-medics go for picnic in times of pandemic is more than irony” the doctor said.

Principal GMC Anantnag, Dr Showkat Jeelani admitted that he had granted permission to the doctors to go to picnic but added that it was not any big issue.

“Yes i had given them permission. I dont think there is anything wrong in it,” Principal said.

Asked was it advisable for them to go to the crowded place amid rise in covid cases and who managed the department tasked to carry out RT-PCR during the day, principal said ,” The department is working during evening and night hours. They only collect samples during the day for which some people were available. Now they will process the samples during the night,”.