Cash-strapped people want restart of ‘sasti roti’ scheme

Rawalpindi
For last 18 months, poor people are deprived of ‘sasti roltis’. Since July 5, 2013, the Punjab government has forgotten the ‘sasti roti’ scheme in the province, including Rawalpindi, but the poor are still hoping for the restart of the welfare project.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was keen to start the ‘sasti roti’ scheme throughout the country after coming into power. Unfortunately, the scheme instead of being expanded across the country has even been stopped in Punjab.
More than 1,200 ‘tandoors’ and around 47 mechanical ‘roti’ plants, established by the PML-N government during its last tenure, have not been providing ‘sasti rotis’ at the rate of Rs2 for the last 18 months, compelling the poor to buy a ‘naan’ for Rs8 and a ‘roti’ for Rs7.
On the other hand, the Rawalpindi Naanbais Welfare Association claimed that the provincial government not only stopped the ‘sasti roti scheme’ but continuously increased the rates of ‘atta’ bags, gas tariff, therefore, ‘roti’ price has increased. If the government did not control ‘atta’ prices, a ‘roti’ would sell for Rs10 and a ‘naan’ for Rs12 in a few months, the association warned.
Rawalpindi Naanbhais Welfare Association President Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi said, “Shahbaz Sharif provided ‘sasti rotis’ in the PPP tenure only to gain popularity. The PML-N government could provide ‘sasti rotis’ to the poor in a better way now as it is in power.”
‘Sasti Roti’ Plants Association (SRPA) General Secretary Raja Rashid Mehmood told ‘The News’ that the government has shut down all ‘tandoors’ and mechanical ‘roti’ plants and completely stopped ‘atta’ quota to them for 18 months. “We invested our hard-earned money to establish mechanical ‘roti’ plants but all has been wasted,” he said.
Talking to ‘The News’, people belonging to different walks of life urged the government to restart the scheme for the welfare of public because poor people could not buy ‘rotis’ at high rates. A common man would be able to buy ‘rotis’ for his family easily if the government restarts the ‘sasti roti scheme’, they said.
Shahnaz Fatima, a poor woman, said, “The government at once stopped the ‘sasti roti’ scheme as they came into power. They should start public welfare schemes more as now they are in power.”
Niaz Ahmed, a resident of Waris Khan, said that the PML-N government launched the ‘sasti roti scheme’ during last tenure and provided great relief particularly to the poor community. Now, the government could run this project in a better way but it was stopped creating worst situation for the poor, he said. He said that there were two ‘tandoors’ and a mechanical ‘roti’ plant in his area. “We used to purchase ‘sasti rotis’ easily but now it has become difficult for us to buy these from private ‘tandoors’. The government should restart the ‘sasti roti scheme’ to provide some relief to the poor,” he demanded.
According to the City District Government, Rawalpindi, the ‘sasti roti’ plants were operational in different localities, including Naseerabad, Dhoke Chiraghdin, Shamsabad, Dhoke Kala Khan, Pirwadhai, Bagh Sardaran, Chungi No. 4, Dhoke Illahi Bakhsh, Gharibabad, Ratta Amral, Dhoke Ratta, Tipu Road, Raheemabad, Pirwadhai, Ganjmandi, Qasimabad, Tehmasbad and some other localities from where poor people were getting ‘sasti rotis.’
The District Food Department admitted all facts, saying that they are not providing subsidised ‘atta’ to mechanical ‘roti’ plants and ‘tandoors’ from July 5, 2013. It also admitted that there were more than 1,200 ‘tandoors’ and around 47 mechanical ‘roti’ plants in Rawalpindi where subsidised ‘atta’ bags were supplied. “But, 18 months back the higher authorities directed us to stop subsidised ‘atta’ supply to mechanical ‘roti’ plants and ‘tandoors’,” the department said.