(a) whether the Government has taken note of rise in price of essential commodities viz. foodgrains, pulses, edible oils, and vegetables including onion in the country during the recent months;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the factors causing rise in prices; and
(c) the remedial steps taken by the Government to contain the rising food prices?
THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.27 FOR 08.07.2014 REGARDING PRICE RISE OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES
(a): Yes. The item-wise details are given at Annexure.
(b): Rise in the prices of essential food items are due to several factors such as rise in transportation costs, anticipation of deficit rains, supply constraints and artificial shortage due to hoarding and black-marketing.
(c): The recent initiatives taken by the Government to improve the availability and contain prices of essential food items are as follows :
# Minimum Export Price (MEP) fixed for potatoes at USD 450 per M.T. w.e.f. 26.06.2014 and of onions at USD 500 per M.T. w.e.f. 2.07.2014 respectively.
# States have been advised to allow free movement of fruits and vegetables by delisting them from the APMC Act.
# Government has approved the release of additional five million tonnes of Rice to BPL & APL families in states pending implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA).
# Advisory to State Governments issued to take action against hoarding & black marketing and effectively enforce the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 & the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.
# Imposed stock limits in respect of onion and potato for a period of one year with effect from 3rd July, 2014 under the Essential Commodities Act.