(a) the details of works/functions being carried out by the Price Monitoring Cell (PMC);
(b) whether the Government has reviewed/analysed the functioning of PMC;
(c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(d) the action taken by the Government thereon?
THE MINISTER OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*128 FOR 08.12.2015 REGARDING FUNCTIONS OF PMC.
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(a) to (d): Price Monitoring Cell (PMC) was set up in the Department of Consumer Affairs in 1998 with the objective of monitoring prices of select essential commodities on regular basis and to assist in making policy interventions.
Wholesale and retail prices of 22 essential commodities are collected through Civil Supplies Departments of States/UTs. Based on the price data received, the cell generates a daily prices report which can also be accessed directly on-line at http://fcamin.nic.in, www.consumeraffairs.nic.in. Over the years the daily report has become one of the official referral documents for assessing actual price trends of these selected essential items of daily consumption. PMC is also associated with analysis of commodity specific policy proposals of other departments and process of revision of Wholesale/Consumer Price indices. It is also conducting on the spot inspections of specific commodity prices.
The price monitoring activities undertaken by the Unit has been evaluated periodically. At the time of inception PMC monitored prices of 14 essential commodities across 18 centres. The coverage has since increased to 22 commodities for which prices are collected from 78 centres spread across the States/UTs. A new Plan scheme on Strengthening of Price Monitoring Cell was approved with a total outlay of Rs.10.81 crore. The scheme is under implementation w.e.f. 1.4.2014 with the objective of strengthening the existing mechanism of price monitoring both at the centre and state level.
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