Team Blitz India
UNION Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal launched the sale of rice under ‘Bharat’ brand and flagged off 100 mobile vans in New Delhi on February 6.
At the launch, the Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sensitive towards the needs of the people of the country. It is under his watch that price of essential commodities is being kept in check.
The Minister said the Government of India is committed towards welfare of farmers as well as people of the country. The Central government purchases essential commodities from farmers and sells them to consumers at subsidised rates whenever in need.
The launch of retail sale of ‘Bharat’ rice will increase supplies in the market at affordable rates and will help in continued moderation of prices of this important food item. This is the latest among a series of steps taken by the Government of India towards the welfare of consumers, the minister said.
‘Bharat’ rice will be available at all physical and mobile outlets of Kendriya Bhandar, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) with immediate effect and will be expanded to other retail outlets and e-commerce platforms. ‘Bharat’ rice will be sold in 5 kg and 10 kg bags at maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 29 per kg.
Bharat atta is already being sold by these three agencies at Rs 27.50 per kg in 5 kg and 10 kg packs from their physical retail outlets, mobile vans as well as through some other retail networks and e-commerce platforms.
Similarly, Bharat dal (chana dal) is also being sold by these three agencies at Rs 60 per kg for 1 kg pack and Rs 55 per kg for 30 kg pack along with onions at Rs 25 per kg. Apart from these three agencies, state-controlled cooperatives of Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat are also involved in retail sale of Bharat dal. With the launch of sale of ‘Bharat’ Rice, consumers can get rice, atta, dal as well as onions from these outlets at fair and affordable prices.
Under the overall umbrella of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), farmers, general consumers, over 80 crore beneficiaries under the targeted public distribution system, as well as other groups like school children, children in anganwadis, adolescent girls, children in hostels etc. are receiving benefits in different ways.
