Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Announces New Grain Purchase Plan for States
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi announced that grain-deficient states can now buy directly from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) without participating in e-auctions. This decision aims to reduce the huge surplus of stocks before the new procurement season.
Under the open market sale scheme, the Department of Food and Public Distribution will sell grain to states at Rs 2,800 per quintal, excluding transportation costs. If states want to procure more than the stipulated 5 kg of free grain per individual, they can do so at the same price of Rs 2,800 per quintal, down from the earlier Rs 2,900 per quintal.
The sale of atta and rice under the ‘Bharat’ brand will continue until June 30, 2024. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) will provide free food grains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries for five years starting January 1, 2024, with an estimated financial outlay of Rs 11.80 lakh crore.
To address anaemia and nutrition deficiency, the government has replaced custom-milled rice with fortified rice in all its schemes, achieving 100% coverage by March 2024. ‘Quality food and nutritious food is the top priority of PM Modi government,’ said Joshi.
Regarding high food inflation, Joshi noted that tomato prices are stabilizing and subsidized tomatoes are available for Rs 60 per kg. The sowing area for pulses has increased, and there will be 100% procurement from farmers. Food inflation almost doubled to 8.36% in June, compared to 4.63% in the same month of 2023, driven by rising prices in various food segments.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a person who is in charge of a specific department in the central government of India. They help make important decisions for the country.
Pralhad Joshi -: Pralhad Joshi is a politician in India who works as a Union Minister. He helps make decisions about important things like food and resources.
Grain-deficient states -: Grain-deficient states are places in India where there isn’t enough grain, like rice or wheat, for everyone to eat.
Food Corporation of India -: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a government organization that stores and distributes food grains to make sure everyone has enough to eat.
E-auctions -: E-auctions are online auctions where people can buy and sell things by placing bids over the internet.
Procurement season -: Procurement season is the time of year when the government buys crops from farmers to store and distribute later.
Rs 2,800 per quintal -: Rs 2,800 per quintal means that the price of 100 kilograms of grain is 2,800 Indian Rupees.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana -: The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is a government program that gives free food grains to poor people in India to help them during tough times.
81.35 crore beneficiaries -: 81.35 crore beneficiaries means that 813.5 million people in India are getting help from the government program.
Fortified rice -: Fortified rice is rice that has extra vitamins and minerals added to it to make it healthier and help people get the nutrients they need.
Nutrition deficiency -: Nutrition deficiency happens when people don’t get enough vitamins and minerals from their food, which can make them sick.
