New Delhi: If you are a resident of Delhi and ask your known ones living in other states about availability of subsidised Toor Dal in their neighbourhood, the answer in most cases will be a 'no.' Do you know why? Because their States’ Government had shown no interest in the Central Government’s scheme of imported pulses.
It is astonishing that except Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, no other states have come forward to lift imported pulses to distribute in their states. However, Delhi is exceptional where arrangements are being made by Central Government also to distribute subsidised Toor Dal at Safal, Central bhandars and Nafed’s outlets.
Sources in the Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supply Ministry said, “After taking the decision to import pulses, Government of India, Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) had conducted several video conferences and sent communications to all the States asking them to indicate the quantity of pulses required by them. However, barring Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu no States including Bihar had responded positively.”
Sources in the ministry hinted that “it is because of non-availability of fair distribution channels in the States.” In the Public Distribution System (PDS) the ration shops normally deal with only rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene. The PDS shops does not sell pulses and other commodities. Only some States have distribution channels through Marketing Federations and Civil Supplies Corporations.
It is notable that to rein the soaring pulses prices, Central Government has started a Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) in the month of April this year. Along with this, it had also initiated steps to import pulses, especially Toor and Urad. However, later it decided to import only Toor Dal. Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India (DoCA) had written letters to all State Governments seeking their requirement of pulses.
Even though no requests were received from any State, the Price Stabilisation Fund Management Committee (PSFMC) had taken a decision to import 10,000 MTs of Toor through MMTC Limited. This decision was taken in the month of June in anticipation of price rise of pulses and to send a signal to the market forces that Central Government is willing to intervene in the market to stabilise the prices. “However the actual import has started in the month of September and owing to this effort of Government to send signals to hoarders could not yield any results” said a source.
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