Uri’s Hathlangaresidents demand ration depot

Uri, July 13:Residents of Hathlanga village in Uri have raised a pressing demand for the establishment of a local government ration depot, citing immense hardships in accessing essential supplies.Locals told Rising Kashmir that they are forced to travel long distances to nearby villages to collect monthly ration supplies, as their own area lacks a Public Distribution System (PDS) outlet. “We have to travel several kilometres, and the terrain is not easy. It becomes worse for elderly people and women,” said Talib Hussain, a resident.Adding to their woes, residents allege that local Sumo vehicle drivers charge Rs 100 per ration bag to transport essentials from the nearest depot. “This defeats the purpose of subsidised ration,” said another local, Abdul Majeed Dar. “For poor families, the cost of transport equals or sometimes exceeds the cost of the ration itself.”The villagers have appealed to the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department (FCS&CA) to urgently set up a ration depot in Hathlanga. They say this step would ease their economic burden and ensure timely access to basic necessities.Local social activists have also extended support to the demand, calling it a “genuine and long-pending issue.”