The Government has decided to use postal network for distribution of subsidized pulses and release more chana from buffer stock in order to ensure availability of these commodities at reasonable prices during ongoing festival season. The decisions were taken in the Inter Ministerial Committee on prices of essential commodities headed by Union Consumer Affairs Secretary, Hem Pande. The meeting was attended by senior officials of Ministry/Department of Agriculture, Food, Commerce, Revenue, MMTC, NAFED etc.
The committee reviewed availability and prices of essential commodities specially pulses and suggested that in the absence of Government outlets in the states postal networks should be export for the distribution. The committee observed that there are declining trends in the prices of pulses in recent weeks while prices of some other commodities were stable.
The committee also reviewed procurement arrangements of Kharif pulses by Government agencies. It was informed that so far 500 procurement centres have been opened and farmers are being paid through check or bank transfer instantly. The Government has set up procurement target of 50,000 MT for current Kharif pulses.