New Delhi: Expressing his concern over rising prices of food products, former Union food secretary and former food commissioner of Supreme Court NC Saxena on Monday said that implementing rule of stock limit on edible oils will not help in controlling price hike but will increase corruption. The food inspectors will harass the shopkeepers and the government policy will not function properly.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, the former food commissioner further suggested, instead of imposing a stock limit on edible oils the government should increase its imports.
He said, "Like subsidy is given on food grains like wheat and rice, a subsidy can be given on oils as well. The public distribution system needs to distribute oil. Only then ration card holders and priority households (PHH) will be able to get oil at affordable prices."
"The price of edible oils has increased by 50 percent in the last one year. The price of mustard oil has increased the most because its consumption is high. Imports from countries like Malaysia, Indonesia should be increased immediately. My suggestion would be to increase the production of oils. Farmers should be given more on minimum support price oils so that the production of oils in the country increases. The price has increased in the international market, so the prices in our country have also increased. 60% of India's edible oil requirement is fulfilled through imports," he added.
To rein the skyrocketing prices of edible oils, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Finance has implemented the stock limit rule on oil and oilseeds till March 31. 2022. The states have been asked to follow the rule to control the price hike on the products.
According to the government's notification, the states will decide the stock limit according to their consumption and hoarding of edible oils should not be done in the state than their consumption. The Centre said it will improve the demand and supply in the market and the prices will come down.
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