NEW DELHI: The government is working on a plan to supply
pulses to poor households across 201 identified districts at subsidised rates. Sources said two kilogram pulses per family will be distributed to those covered under the National Food Security scheme through public distribution system (
PDS).
The 201 districts will cover all the identified aspiration districts across the country. TOI has learnt that the agriculture ministry is preparing the proposal and the subsidised price at which the pulses will be made available is being worked out. The farm ministry has procured about 23 lakh tonnes of chana dal and about 15 lakh tonnes of arhar under the price stabilisation fund.
The fund has been created for market intervention to ensure that the farmers get the right price for their produce when prices crash in the market. Sources said small quantity of moong, masur and urad have also been procured from the farmers directly.
Selling pulses through PDS has been in the talks for long to ensure
poor families get the necessary protein with less expenditure. This will also help government to dispose the stock of pulses procured from farmers.
