If all goes well, the Union government?s subsidised pulses-sale programme ? its second after edible oils?- should become operational across the country by end-August or early September. According to official sources, the government plans to distribute around 10 lakh tonne of pulses in the next few months through this programme which is aimed at controlling the rising prices of pulses.
?Though finer details like the quantum of subsidy, are still being worked out with the finance ministry, but if the proposals are accepted then the programme should start rolling from late August,? a senior government official told FE.
He said that a subsidy of roughly Rs 6-7 per kg could be given if the pattern of edible oils is followe? – wherein the government has decided to sell edible oil to poorer sections of the society at a subsidy of 25%. The cheap pulses will be made available through state government outlets like shakari bhandars, cooperative stores and other public distribution agencies.
According to trade sources, tur (arhar) prices have risen by around Rs 20 in the last one year and are currently ruling at around Rs 38-46 a kg, while prices of gram have also risen by the same amount and are currently ruling at between Rs 30-40 a kg in the retail market. In 2007, the Centre had asked public sector trading firms – MMTC, STC, PEC and Nafed – to import 15 lakh tonne of pulses in the 2007-08 fiscal. These agencies have been directed to contract similar quantities in the current fiscal of 2008-09.
As per latest government figures, the country?s pulses output is estimated at 15.11 million metric tonne, while demand is estimated to be around 17-18 million tonne. This gap is being met through imports. On Monday, the central government launched its subsidised edible oil sale programme in Andhra Pradesh through which it plans to make imported edible oils available at low prices to poor families.