NEW DELHI : After cooking oil, the government has approved a scheme to sell subsidised pulses through ration shops in order to give relief to the common man reeling under rising prices. "We have finalised the scheme to sell four lakh tons of pulses at a subsidy of Rs 10 per kg through ration shops," a top official of Consumer Affairs Ministry said. "Out of the total quantity of four lakh tons, 50 per cent would be yellow peas (white matar), while the remaining would be a mix of other pulses," the official said. While yellow peas would be offered at Rs 17-18 per kg in the ration shops, other pulses would cost Rs 25 or more per kg, he said. In the domestic market, the pulses are available in the range of Rs 40-60 per kg. The official said the programme is expected to start from October as state governments have been asked to inform the Centre about their requirement. The government has sufficient stocks in hand for rolling out the scheme even now if demand from states come, he said. The Centre is importing pulses through public sector trading firms STC, PEC, MMTC and Nafed from last year. Sources said, about 2 lakh tons of imported pulses are lying in government stocks, majority of which are yellow peas. STC, MMTC, PEC and Nafed were asked to import 15 lakh tons of pulses in 2007-08 fiscal, but they managed to import about 12-13 lakh tons. These agencies have been asked to import 15 lakh tons of pulses in the current fiscal also. India imports about 30 lakh tons of pulses every year, both on government and private account, as demand outstrips production. Output is seen at record 15.11 mn tons in 2007-08 against an annual demand of 17-18 mn tons. Battling with high inflation, the government last month started supplying edible oil at cheaper rates through ration shops. (The Economic Times)
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