Context: Centre launches sale of Bharat Rice at an MRP of Rs. 29/kg in 5Kg and 10Kg packs.
What is Bharat Rice
- It is the retail sale of Food corporation of India’s (FCI) rice to general consumers at a subsidised rate.
- Ministry - Ministry of Consumer Affairs, food and public distribution.
- Agencies
- Kendriya Bhandar
- National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
- National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF)
- The Bharat Rice will be available for purchase from mobile vans and physical outlets of the three central cooperative agencies.
- As per the ministry in future, it will be expanded to other retail outlets and e-commerce platforms.
Why this step
- Government received a lukewarm response for sale of rice to bulk users at the same rate through the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS).
- To check inflationary trends in the food economy, as prices of rice are increasing despite good produce in the Kharif season.
- Ample stock in FCI is lying idle due to various regulations on rice exports.
Significance
- 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.
Other Commodities
- Bharat Atta (wheat flour) is already being sold by these 3 agencies @ Rs. 27.50 per Kg in 5Kg and 10 Kg packs.
- Similarly, Bharat Dal (chana dal / Chickpea) is also being sold by these 3 agencies @ Rs.60 per kg for 1kg pack and Rs.55 per kg for 30 kg pack along with onions @ Rs.25 per kg.
- Apart from these 3 agencies, state- controlled cooperatives of Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat are also involved in retail sale of Bharat Dal.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
- It was established in the year 1958.
- It is registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act.
- It was setup with the object to promote Co-operative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers.
- Agricultural farmers are the main members of Nafed, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of Nafed.
- Headquarters is situated in New Delhi.
National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF)
- It was established in 1965 to function as the apex body of consumer cooperatives in the country.
- It is registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
- It operates through a network of 24 Branch Offices located in different parts of the country.
- NCCF Headquarters is situated in New Delhi.
Kendriya Bhandar
- The Central Govt. Employees Consumer Cooperative Society Ltd. popularly known as Kendriya Bhandar
- It was set up in 1963 as a welfare project for the benefit of Central Govt. employees and public at large.
- It functions under aegis of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Govt. of India.
- It is registered with Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Govt. of India as a Multi-State Consumer Cooperative Society.
Food Corporation of India’s (FCI)
- It is a statutory body setup under the Food Corporation’s Act 1964.
- It is a public sector undertaking under Department of food & Public distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
- Objective
- Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers.
- Distribution of food grains throughout the country for public distribution system.
- Maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of foodgrains to ensure National Food Security