Government Takes Action to Control Rising Onion Prices
Inflation Concerns in India
In October, India’s retail inflation rose to 6.21%, with food inflation reaching 10.87%, the highest in over a year. A significant factor was a 42.18% increase in vegetable prices, particularly onions.
Government’s Response
Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, announced measures to stabilize onion prices. She noted that while some states like Maharashtra and Gujarat have higher prices, others like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have lower prices.
The Kanda Express Initiative
To address price volatility, the government introduced the “Kanda Express,” special trains transporting onions in bulk. These trains have already delivered onions to Delhi, Guwahati, and Chennai, helping stabilize prices. The latest delivery to Delhi is expected to further reduce prices.
Future Goals
The government aims to reduce retail onion prices to around Rs. 35 per kilogram. Despite the current inflation exceeding the Reserve Bank of India’s expectations, there is hope for a correction in vegetable prices soon.
Doubts Revealed
Nidhi Khare -: Nidhi Khare is a government official in India. She works as the Consumer Affairs Secretary, which means she helps make sure that the prices of things people buy, like onions, are fair and stable.
Retail inflation -: Retail inflation is when the prices of things we buy, like food and clothes, go up. It means that people have to spend more money to buy the same things they used to buy for less.
Kanda Express -: Kanda Express is a special train service in India. It is used to quickly transport onions to different cities to help lower their prices by making sure there are enough onions available for everyone.
Reserve Bank -: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is like the country’s bank for banks. It helps manage India’s money and keeps an eye on things like inflation to make sure the economy is healthy.