NEW DELHI: After Onion, Tomato, and Aata, the Union government has started selling cheaper pulses (Chana Dal) to consumers in the festive season in view of the shooting price of the commodity.
Today, the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi launched retail of Bharat Chana Dal Phase – II in Delhi-NCR by flagging off mobile vans.
The government started selling Chana Dal (Chickpea) at a maximum retail price Rs.70 per kg and Chana Whole at Rs.58 per kg. The Union government currently has 3 lakh tons of Chana stock.
From the last few months, the average price of Chana dal is around Rs 95 per kg and the maximum price can go up to Rs 120.
Apart from Chana, the government had also expanded the Bharat brand to Moong and Masur Dals. The Bharat Moong Dal is retailed at Rs.107 per kg, Bharat Moong Sabut at Rs.93 per kg and Bharat Masur Dal at Rs.89 per kg. The resumption of Bharat Chana Dal at this time will enhance the supplies to consumers of Delhi-NCR in this festive season.
“The initiative is an affirmation of the Government of India’s commitment to ensuring the availability of essential food to the consumers at affordable prices,” said Joshi during a media interaction.
In the past few months, the Union Government has been direct interventions through retail sale of basic food items such as rice, atta, dals and onion have also helped in maintaining a stable price regime.
Joshi further said that the Centre has taken various policy measures to ensure the availability of pulses.
“In order to encourage domestic production, the government has raised the MSP of pulses year after year, and also announced the policy to procure Tur, Urad and Masur without a ceiling for 2024-25 season,” said Joshi.
The government has been trying hard to douse the price fire of pulses. It has taken many steps to augment domestic production and at the same time facilitate seamless import.
The government has allowed duty-free import of Tur, Urad, Masur and Chana till 31st March 2025 and Yellow Peas import till 31st December, 2024.
With respect of vegetables, the government had procured 4.7 lakh tonnes of onions from the rabi crop for price stabilisation buffer through NCCF and NAFED. The government started the disposal of onions from the buffer from 5th September 2024 and to date, 1.15 lakh tonnes have been disposed of.