Lok Sabha Question No. 4236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Sale of Essential Commodities
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4236

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2017

## SALE OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

## 4236. SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  plans  to  utilize  the  vast  network  of  post  offices  across  the  country  to  sell subsidised pulses, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  also  reviewed  the  availability  and  prices  of  essential  commodities  and decided  to  release  more  essential  commodities  from  buffer  stock  to  ensure  their  availability  through retail distribution at reasonable prices during the season, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has reviewed the prices of pulses, sugar and other essential commodities, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the measures undertaken by the Government to protect the consumers from high prices along with the details of prices of pulses, sugar and other essential commodities during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a)  :      Distribution  of  pulses  through  branches  of  Post  Offices  in  the  country  is  one  of  the  options available to the Government to improve outreach and coverage for market intervention.

(b)  :    The  Government  is  monitoring  the  prices  and  availability  of  essential  commodities.  During 2016-17, Government of India has so far allocated 628.91 lakh tonnes of foodgrains under National Food  Security  Act  (NFSA),  other  welfare  schemes  and  additional  allocation  including  festival, calamity etc. Besides, FCI through Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) has sold 45.67 lakh tonnes of wheat out of Central Pool to enhance the supply and moderate the open market prices.

In addition, allocation of around 54,160 tonnes pulses were made to States/UTs/agencies from the buffer stock of pulses for direct retailing by them. Also, 46088 tonnes of pulses were auctioned in open market.

(c)& (d) : The Government is closely monitoring the prices of essential commodities including pulses and  sugar.  The  details  of  prices  of  some  of  the  commodities  over  last  three  years  are  given  at Annexure .

The  measures  taken  by  Government  from  time  to  time  to  stabilize  prices  of  essential  food items  inter-alia,  include  creation  of  buffer  stock  of  pulses  for  effective  market  intervention; appropriately  utilizing  trade  and  fiscal  policy  instruments  like  import  and  export  duty,  Minimum Export Price, export restrictions etc.to regulate domestic availability and moderate prices; imposition of  stock  limits,  provision  of  higher  Minimum  Support  Prices  to  incentivize  farmers  for  increasing production etc .

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## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) & (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4236 FOR 28.03.2017 REGARDING SALE OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES.

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| Commodities   |             |            |             |             |                 |                 |                 |
|---------------|-------------|------------|-------------|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Commodities   | Price As On | 1 Year Ago | 2 years Ago | 3 Years Ago | %Variation over | %Variation over | %Variation over |
| Commodities   | 23/03/2017  | 23/03/2016 | 23/03/2015  | 21/03/2014  | 1 Year          | 2 years         | 3 Years         |
| Rice          | 29.05       | 28.57      | 27.64       | 27.24       | 1.68            | 5.1             | 6.64            |
| Wheat         | 24.42       | 26.28      | 23          | 21.76       | -7.08           | 6.17            | 12.22           |
| Gram Dal      | 88.4        | 66.23      | 49.81       | 48.6        | 33.47           | 77.47           | 81.89           |
| Tur/Arhar Dal | 88.69       | 134.98     | 82.74       | 70.23       | -34.29          | 7.19            | 26.29           |
| Urad Dal      | 98.43       | 141.26     | 80.83       | 66.09       | -30.32          | 21.77           | 48.93           |
| Moong Dal     | 79.32       | 101.37     | 100.28      | 85.38       | -21.75          | -20.9           | -7.1            |
| Masoor Dal    | 74.82       | 79.31      | 73          | 60.28       | -5.66           | 2.49            | 24.12           |
| Sugar         | 42.46       | 34.72      | 32.71       | 34.68       | 22.29           | 29.81           | 22.43           |
| Milk          | 40.9        | 38.87      | 38.49       | 35.54       | 5.22            | 6.26            | 15.08           |
| Groundnut Oil | 133.63      | 120.96     | 116.61      | 120.97      | 10.47           | 14.6            | 10.47           |
| Mustard Oil   | 110.12      | 113.93     | 100.1       | 97.98       | -3.34           | 10.01           | 12.39           |
| Vanaspati     | 77.93       | 72.63      | 76.02       | 77.33       | 7.3             | 2.51            | 0.78            |
| Soya Oil      | 86.31       | 79.94      | 84.53       | 85.67       | 7.97            | 2.11            | 0.75            |
| Sunflower Oil | 93.89       | 93.86      | 93.78       | 96.91       | 0.03            | 0.12            | -3.12           |
| Palm Oil      | 70.35       | 64.91      | 68.05       | 72.72       | 8.38            | 3.38            | -3.26           |
| Potato        | 13.47       | 17.52      | 15.64       | 15.86       | -23.12          | -13.87          | -15.07          |
| Onion         | 14.66       | 16.87      | 23.66       | 17.4        | -13.1           | -38.04          | -15.75          |
| Tomato        | 16.98       | 16.11      | 20.37       | 15.29       | 5.4             | -16.64          | 11.05           |

Source: State Civil Supplies Department

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