Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ramvilas Paswan today during the question hour in Lok Sabha announced that the government will continue with the current price schemes proposed by the government for rice wheat and coarse grains.
He said that though under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 there was a provision for revision of the prices of foodgrains every three years, but the government has decided to keep the same rates till 2018. He further informed that Under the scheme, rice is supplied at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg and coarse grains at Rs 1 per kg. Paswan said that it was the state’s duty to see to it that no one in their state remains hungry.
Further talking about the storage of the grains he said that the government has formulated Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme in 2008-2009 for the construction of storage capacity through private entrepreneurs, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and state government agencies. He also added that no funds will be given to the government for the construction of these warehouses. Under PEG scheme, investment for construction of godowns is done by private parties, CWC, SWCs and other state agencies by arranging their own funds and land he added.
Ramvilas also informed that under the scheme introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi employees of the FCI would now get a pension and post retirement medical benefits.