The
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to revise the buffer norms of foodgrains
in the Central Pool as follows:
(in million tonnes)
|
As on
|
Existing since April, 2005
|
Revised
|
|
1st April
|
21.2
|
21.04
|
|
1st July
|
31.9
|
41.12
|
|
1st Oct
|
21.2
|
30.77
|
|
1st Jan
|
25.0
|
21.41
|
The
CCEA has also approved that in case the stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool
is more than the revised buffer norms, the Department of Food and Public
Distribution will offload excess stock in the domestic market through open sale
or through exports. For this purpose an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG)
consisting of Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution,
Secretary, Expenditure and Secretary, Consumer Affairs has been constituted.
This will ensure better management of food stocks in the country.
Background:
The
present buffer norms for foodgrains in the Central Pool are in existence since
April, 2005. The offtake of foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution
System (TPDS) has increased significantly in the last few years. Further, the
National Food Security Act has also come into force w.e.f. 5.7.2013.
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DS