Govt not to hike sugar prices under PDS quota

25 Sep 2012 Evaluate

In a great respite for common man, the Centre has deferred its decision of slashing subsidy on sugar under the public distribution system (PDS) quota. Currently, the government is selling sugar at a subsidized rate of Rs 13.50 per kg through the PDS, which it buys at Rs 19.50 per kg from millers. The government has been selling about 27 lakh tonnes of sugar every year to the below poverty line (BPL) families through PDS.

The PDS rate of sugar remains same since 2002. With the rising procurement price of the sweetener in line with peaking sugarcane price, the Ministry of Food had proposed raising sugar prices through PDS so as to reduce the burden of the government fund. It also pointed out that if the prices are raised to Rs 25.37 per kg, for sugar sold at every rupee lower than this price, the government will have to incur a subsidy of Rs 270 crore a year.

Albeit, it has not suggested any specific amount of hike in sugar prices, but left the decision to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). It is mandatory for mills to sell 10% of their output to the government at below cost rates for supply to ration shops. Against the country's annual sugar demand of 22 million tonnes, mills are estimated to have produced 26 million tonnes of sugar in the 2011-12 marketing year.

However, the Union Cabinet has extended a control order on commodities from October 2012 to September 2013, ensuring moderate prices of pulses, edible oils and oilseeds. It also has not passed the proposal to digitize ration cards, and fully computerize the supply management chain of the Food Corporation of India.

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