Haryana Food and Supplies Minister Mr Ram Bilas Sharma at a meeting of Food and Supplies Ministers and Secretaries of States on increase in prices of essential commodities and foodgrains in New Delhi today. The meeting was presided over by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan.
New Delhi, July 7, 2015: Haryana Government has urged the Central Government to adopted a multi-pronged strategy to check increase in prices of essential commodities. These included maintaining equilibrium between supply and demand of essential commodities and, if required, these items might be imported, stringent laws should be enacted to check hoarding and formulation of a long term scheme to increase production.
This was stated by Haryana Food and Supplies Minister Mr Ram Bilas Sharma at a meeting of Food and Supplies Ministers and Secretaries of States on increase in prices of essential commodities and foodgrains in New Delhi today. The meeting was presided over by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan.
Mr Ram Bilas Sharma said that the National Food Security Act 2013 has already been enforced in the entire State since January 2014. The state government is also implementing ‘Daal-Roti Scheme’ in its true spirit. He said that the food security of any nation depends on two aspects. First, the production of foodgrains should be enough to meet the requirement of its population and secondly the produced foodgrains should be distributed in a transparent manner among the economically backward persons so that the benefit of the scheme must percolate to the real beneficiaries.
He said that since the Bharatiya Janata Party has formed government in the state, under the National Food Security Act, all the beneficiaries have been computerized and their details have been uploaded on the portal of public distribution system of Government of India. As the state government is committed to ensure transparency in its all functions, these beneficiaries are also being linked to ‘Aadhaar’. More than 128.11 lakh beneficiaries are being benefitted under the scheme. Under the National Food Security Act, 2.48 lakh families who fall under Antyodaya Anna Scheme, are given 35 kg wheat at a nominal rate of Rs two per kg. In addition, other beneficiaries are being given five kg wheat per person per month at a rate of Rs two per kg. Earlier, this wheat used to be given to families living below poverty line at a rate of Rs 5.20 per kg. With a view to ensure women empowerment, it has been decided that the eldest female in a family, whose age is more than 18 years, would be considered as head of the family for getting foodgrains.
While suggesting that the Centre and the States can have a joint strategy on production,supply, distribution of essential commodities and management of export-import of agricultural products, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma stressed the need to increase production to check increasing prices.
He said that he would like to assure the Central Government that in Haryana, various regional agencies and district administration are keeping a constant vigil on increasing prices so that no anti-social element indulges in artificial shortage, storage and black-marketing of essential commodities. Therefore, on the directions of the Central Government, the Haryana government has fixed stock limit for pulses, edible oils and oil seeds and sugar and these stocks are checked from time to time. He said that although there has been an increase in prices of potatoes and onions during last couple of months, yet there is no shortage in their availability in Haryana.
He said that Haryana being adjacent to the national capital, the increase in prices makes its instant impact felt in Haryana. Therefore, he urged the Central Government to take effective steps so as to maintain the supply line of these essential commodities. He said that there should be equilibrium between supply and demand of essential commodities and for this, the Central Government might import these items. Also, if the Central Government feels that illegal storage was being done for black-marketing, the Central Government should enact stringent laws. He also stressed the need to formulate a long term scheme to increase production.
Mr Sharma said that during last few years the production of wheat and rice has increased in Haryana because of modern agricultural practices. The state achieved 113.99 lakh metric tonnes of production, out of this 67.53 lakh metric tonnes of wheat was contributed to the Central pool. It would be used for implementation of public distribution system, National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes. During Kharif 2014, the farmers of Haryana produced 57.78 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. Out of it, 29.98 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was purchased and 19.73 lakh metric tonnes of rice was contributed to Central pool.
He made it clear that there is no shortage of foodgrains in Haryana and according to the stock report as on June 15,2015, there was 80.49 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 3.19 lakh metric tonnes of rice. Haryana is the third largest producer of wheat and rice. Therefore, a small area is used for cultivation of pulses, oilseeds and vegetables. As a result of it, a large quantity of pulses, edible oils, vegetables and sugar are imported from other states. The increase in prices of essential commodities is an issue of concern for Haryana. Although under the public distribution system, as many as 10.69 lakh families which fall under Antyodaya and those living Below Poverty Line are given 2.5 kg of pulses per family at a rate of Rs 20 per kg. Also, 55,737 metric tonnes of pulses have been distributed among these beneficiaries upto March 2015. In addition, there are some families that are above the poverty line but are hard-pressed because of increase in prices. This issue needs to be addressed.
He said that with a view to provide vegetables and fruits at a subsidized rate, the Haryana government is getting implemented ‘Apni Mandi’ scheme through State Agricultural Marketing Board. Under this scheme, the farmers sell their produce directly in 85 such ‘Apni Mandis’ without any middleman. This scheme is benefitting both farmers and consumers. / (SK Vyas, Jalandhar)
Date:
Tuesday, July 7, 2015