No plans to extend PMGKAY beyond November 30: Food Secretary
The prices of most major cooking oils have come down by Rs 5-10 per liter in Delhi and up to Rs 20 in some other cities, Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said on Friday, crediting the global stabilization. Gave. Prices as well as measures such as fee cuts and stock limits. However, the national average retail prices for cooking oil showed little change, and prices of mustard oil, which is produced only domestically, continued to rise.
“International edible oil prices remain high but have stabilized over the past week. The intervention of the central government as well as the active participation of state governments and reduction in wholesale prices by major private companies has resulted in a much steeper fall in retail prices than in the international market,” Mr Pandey told reporters.
Read also: Edible oil prices likely to soften till December: Officials
Besides cutting duty and cess, the Center had used stock limits to help control prices of both edible oils and pulses this year, using provisions of the Essential Commodities Act. An amendment to the Act, which was passed by Parliament last year but was suspended by the Supreme Court in January due to protests from agricultural unions, would not have allowed the imposition of stock limits given the current rate of price rise. .
‘COVID-19 a major factor’
“These are extraordinary times. These are not normal times. Global commodity prices are very high. COVID-19 is a major factor disrupting supply chains, shutting down the industry. There is insufficient labor in the oil production industry in many countries. Given the extraordinary circumstances, it is the right thing to implement,” Mr Pandey said, explaining why the government chose to use the same legal provisions which it sought to remove through last year’s amendments.
Retail prices of most major cooking oils were 35-45% higher than a year ago. However, Delhi saw a clear fall in prices from the beginning of the week to the eve of Diwali, with prices falling by Rs 5-10 per kg over a three-day period. Some of the smaller centers saw higher declines, such as palm oil in Aligarh by ₹18 per kg and sunflower prices in Meghalaya by ₹20 per kg. Nationally, palm oil prices fell by around ₹ 1.45 per kg, while soybean oil rose by the same amount.
Mustard oil, which accounts for 11% of the domestic consumption basket, saw an increase of ₹2.29 per kg, though Mr. Pandey expected a 12-15% increase in mustard acreage this winter after the harvest. After that the prices will come down. .
free ration scheme
With regard to Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Mr Pandey observed that there was no plan to carry forward the free ration scheme launched as a COVID-19 relief beyond 30 November last year.
“As the economy is also reviving and OMSS [or open market sale scheme] It is also exceptionally good, there is no proposal from the department for extension,” he said.
PMGKAY was first launched in March 2020 as part of the COVID-19 relief package, and has since been extended twice. It provides five kg of free food grains a month to 80 crore beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act, who are already eligible for subsidized food grains.
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