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New Delhi : Department of Consumer Affairs on May 17, 2021, reviewed the action taken by States/UTs for disclosure of stock of pulses by stockholders like millers, importers, traders etc. A meeting through Video Conferencing was held on May 17 with the Principal Secretaries of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs of the States/UTs wherein Leena Nandan, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, reviewed the availability and price situation of Pulses across the country. Secretary, Food & Public Distribution and Secretary, Agriculture, Government of India,were also present in the meeting.
During the meeting, it was reiterated that Essential Commodities Act (EC Act), 1955, is aimed at ensuring adequate availability of the scheduled essential commodities at fair prices to the common people. The participants at the meeting observed that sudden spurt in prices of pulses may be due to hoarding of pulses by the Stockholders, according to a PIB release.
Section 3(2)(h) and 3(2)(i) of the Essential Commodities Act(EC Act), 1955,makes a provision for issuance of issue orders for collecting information or statistics to the persons engaged in the production, supply or distribution of or trade and commerce in of any essential commodity and to maintain and produce for inspection such books, accounts and records relating to their business and to furnish such information relating thereto. The powers under this section were delegated to State Governments vide Central Order GSR 800 dated June 9, 1978.
Accordingly, Department of Consumer Affairs vide letter dated May 14, 2021, requested States/UTs to use the power under section 3(2)(h) and 3(2)(i) of the EC Act, 1955 and direct all the Stockholders like Millers, traders, importers etc. to declare the stocks of pulses and that the same may be verified by the State/ UTs Governments.
States/UTs were also requested to monitor the prices of pulses on weekly basis. An online datasheet was also shared with States/UTs to fill the details of millers, wholesalers, importers etc. and the stocks of pulses held by them.
The pulse producing States/UTs were also requested to facilitate procurement as sustained procurement would incentivise farmers to cultivate pulses on a long-term basis. The pulses buffer is maintained by the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) with pulses procured from the farmers. The buffer procurement process supports farmers on the one hand by procuring pulses at MSP, while disposal from the buffer helps in moderating moderate price volatility and thereby mitigate hardships to consumers. The procured pulses are being stored locally to ensure supply of stocks to States at minimal logistic costs and make them available at affordable prices to the consumers.