New Delhi. The Central Government has taken strict steps to provide relief to the common people troubled by the continuously increasing prices of pulses in the country. The government has made it mandatory to provide stock information of all types of pulses to prevent hoarding and artificial shortage in the market. Now stockists, millers, importers, wholesalers and retailers along with big retail chains will have to submit details of the pulses stock held by them every Friday.
The decision was taken after a three-hour meeting
The availability of pulses and their prices in the market were reviewed in a high-level meeting convened by the Consumer Affairs Department. Representatives of pulse millers, importers, traders and big retail companies participated in this meeting which lasted for about three hours. The government has instructed all concerned businessmen to provide correct stock information regularly.
Why are pulses expensive even after bumper production?
The biggest question before the government is why the prices of pulses remain high despite adequate production and imports in the country. At present the Center has a buffer stock of about 38 lakh tonnes of pulses. Apart from this, there has been an increase of about 67 percent in the import of pulses as compared to the same period last year. The country's total pulse production in the current year is estimated to be around 374 lakh metric tonnes, which is the highest in the last five years. An increase of about 12 percent has also been recorded in the production of urad.
Common people can get relief
Given that market prices remain high despite adequate production and imports, the government will now keep a strict vigil on the stocks. By getting stock information every Friday, the availability and supply of pulses can be monitored. The main objective of this step of the government is to stop hoarding, maintain adequate supply in the market and provide relief to common consumers from expensive pulses.