MUMBAI (Commoditiescontrol) - Minister for Food And Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday assured that government of India is continuously monitoring food prices in order to keep a lid on inflation. He added that food price control is a top priority for the government.
The government remains cautious over food inflation especially through July-October, Paswan said, adding that states are taking steps to keep a check on prices through November.
The Minister informed that the government has proposed to form panels that will monitor food prices at state-level.
Paswan said he hopes by September 30, 2015, all states will implement the food security act that gives two-thirds of the country’s population the right to subsidised foodgrains.
Only 11 states have implemented the Act that was approved by parliament in 2013, while more than 19 states and union territories are yet to implement the provisions of the Act.
India weather office’s prediction of a weak monsoon this year had raised concerns that agricultural output may suffer, potentially pushing food prices higher. However, a strong monsoon so far has allayed some of these fears. Still, winter-sown crop yields have been hurt by unseasonal rains, Paswan said.
India’s retail inflation in May rose 5.01% from a year earlier as fuel and pulses prices turned costlier, government data showed last month. Retail food prices, however, rose 4.80% from a year earlier in May, slower than a 5.11% annual increase in April.
Earlier in June, Paswan had said the government is exploring all possible options, including imports, to make pulses and other essential commodities available to the public at fair prices.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015534)
0 Comments 
Post Comment 
