#Government initiates measures to stabilize rice prices and ensure Food Accessibility
RNS: In response to the rising trend in rice prices, the Indian government has taken steps to regulate rice stocks held by various entities, including traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, processors, and millers. Starting next week, these entities will be required to disclose their rice stock levels.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution will oversee this disclosure process, categorizing stocks into broken rice, basmati, non-basmati, and other varieties. The government aims to curb hoarding of rice stocks through this measure.
During a press conference in New Delhi, Sanjeev Chopra, the Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, announced the launch of Bharat Rice next week, priced at 29 rupees per kilogram.
This rice will be available at retail outlets like NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar, and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation. Additionally, specific centers will be targeted for intervention to address regions with higher-than-average rice prices, with the goal of price stabilization.
The government clarified that there is no plan to reconsider export restrictions until rice prices are under control.
Chopra emphasized that these measures demonstrate the government’s commitment to stabilizing the market and ensuring food accessibility for all.
Regarding efforts to increase the availability of wheat in the open market and control wheat prices, Chopra announced that the government will raise the quantity of wheat offered under OMSS in weekly auctions to 5 lakh metric tons and increase the lot size to 400 metric tons.
