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Our Bureau

New Delhi, Aug. 22 The Government is toying with the idea of launching a scheme for the supply of four lakh tonnes of subsidised pulses, with a subsidy component of Rs 10,000 a tonne (Rs 10 a kg).

The objective is to help poor people tide over the gruelling pressures of price rise and also encourage intake of protein at affordable prices

The proposed move may well be modelled on the recently launched scheme for subsidised distribution of edible oil. The edible oil scheme envisages distribution of 10 lakh tonnes of imported edible oil, with the Centre providing a flat subsidy of Rs 15 a kg to State Governments on the quantities lifted by them.

The plan for subsidised distribution of imported pulses was being examined from the standpoint of measures needed in the short term to improve the supply side and thereby address the problem of spiraling price rise, sources in the Finance Ministry said.

The Consumer Affairs Ministry had submitted a proposal for distribution of pulses by State Government agencies against payment of subsidy by Central Government. The Union Cabinet is yet to give its nod for the launch of the scheme for subsidised distribution of imported pulses.

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry said on Friday that headline inflation measured by Wholesale price index (WPI) continues to be a matter of “concern” and that effort was being made to address the problem through monetary steps as well as improving the supply side. Headline inflation touched 12.63 per cent for the week ended August 9, 2008.

Official sources highlighted that WPI as well as the inflation rate for each group—primary articles, fuel and power and manufactured products—is measured on an annual point-to-point basis.

Hence, it is largely influenced by the trend in the corresponding week of the previous year, which is the base year. The WPI was around 4.4 per cent till November 24, 2007 .

The official noted that the base effect would continue to play a role in the next few months and may taper-off in end-October and mid-November this year

More Stories on : Pulses | Economy | Policy

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