The Tamil Nadu government has constituted State-level and district-level monitoring committees to oversee the supply of pulses under the Central scheme at a subsidy of ₹15 per kg.
In line with the policy guidelines framed by the Centre, the Chief Secretary would be the chairperson of the six-member State-level monitoring committee, which would have the Secretaries of the Finance, Cooperation and Food, Agriculture and Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Departments as members, besides the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation as its convenor.
In the district-level monitoring committees, the respective District Collector would be the chairperson with Joint Registrar of Cooperatives, District Supply Officer, Personal Assistant (Noon Meals) to Collector and District Project Officer of Integrated Child Development Services as members. The regional manager of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation would be the convener.
On Centre’s request for the supply of pulses at a subsidy of ₹15 a kg, the State government had intimated the month-wise requirement of raw toor, green gram and black gram under various schemes. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare of the Centre framed policy guidelines that mandated the constitution of State-level and district-level monitoring committees to oversee the supply of pulses.
In August last year, the Union Cabinet approved release of pulses procured from farmers under the Price Support Scheme to States.
Under the Central scheme, State governments can lift 34.88 lakh tonnes of various pulses.