The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has integrated itself in the overall scheme of things of the NDA government to give priority to programmes which have direct  positive bearing on the life of the common man. In order to change the work culture and bring better governance, the ministry has taken various initiatives. Decision making has been made swift; schemes and Acts are being reviewed to ensure that the common man being consumer is benefited effectively.

 

Steps to contain prices of essential food items

In view of weak monsoon in some parts of country, an increase was noticed in prices of some essential commodities. Following steps were taken to contain the price rise:

·        A conference of State Food Ministers was convened on 4^th July to plan both long and short term strategies to contain prices.

·        Potato and onions declared as essential food items under Essential Commodities Act, 1955. States have been authorised to impose stock limits for onion and potato both to check hoarding. West Bengal and Telengana State have already issued the order.

·        States were advised to amend their APMC Act to deregulate sale of fruits and vegetables in such a manner that farmers could have wider selling choice and consumers could avail the same at cheaper price. In Delhi APMC Act has been accordingly amended and a farmer’s market is also being set up.

·        Decision was taken to create a Market Intervention Fund which will be used by the Government for direct market intervention in case of unreasonable increase in prices of food items.

·        Price Monitoring Cell of the Ministry monitors prices of 22 essential commodities from 60 Market centres.  Now the States have been asked to set up their own Price Monitoring Units to supplement the Central Govt.

·        Decision taken to develop a “common national market” by removing all barriers on inter-state trade to overcome the situation of scarcity in one part and excess supply in other part.

·        100 lakh tonnes wheat  released from FCI stock for domestic sale in the open market. This wheat would be available for sale upto March 2015 to contain wheat prices across the markets.

·        Fifty lakh tonnes rice released through Public Distribution System.

·        Decision taken to amend the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of  Essential Commodities Act, 1980 to make hoarding a non-bailable offence and to increase the period of detention from 6 months to 1 year for black marketing of essential commodities. 

 

Steps to facilitate payment of sugarcane arrears

 

Concerted efforts made to facilitate payment of sugarcane arrears to the farmers in a time bound manner.  These include the followings:

·        Besides several meetings at the level of senior officials, a meeting was held by Union Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution Minister with apex bodies of sugar sector and State Government’s representatives of major sugar producing states to stress on speedy payment of the arrears.

·        To facilitate payment of arrears, disbursal of interest free loan to sugar sector expedited. As on September 4, 2014, Rs 5511 crores have been disbursed out of Rs 6094 crores sanctioned by that date.

·        Decision taken to provide incentives for the export of raw sugar at the rate of      Rs 3,300 per ton for June-July, 2014 and Rs 3,371 per ton for Aug-Sept, 2014 .

·        Import duty on raw sugar increased from 15 percent to 25 percent

·        As a result of these efforts, sugarcane arrears have come down to Rs. 7760    crore (as on September 4, 2014) from Rs. 14095 crore (as on May 31, 2014).

 

Boost to Consumer Protection

 

Soon after taking over, the new government initiated a new culture of consumer protection. Following steps were taken in this regard:

 

·        Amendments proposed in the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to make it more effective and to ensure speedy, inexpensive and simple dispensation of justice for the consumers. National Consumer Protection Authority proposed with all the executive and enforcement powers for redressal of consumer grievances and penal action against defaulting companies.

·        Initiatives taken to set up Grahak Suvidha Kendra (Consumer Care Centres) in various parts of the country which will run through voluntary consumer organisations assisted financially by the Govt. The centres will serve as single window facility for consumers to get their grievances redressed with facilities of counselling and mediation.

·        To ensure strict quality compliance for consumer products, amendments proposed in the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. These include provision of re-calling of products, enhancing the financial penalty and provision to reduce the long process of litigation. Decision also taken to include more products and services for mandatory standards certification to benefit the consumers with quality products.

·        To tackle the menace of misleading advertisement, the Department of Consumer Affairs has initiated steps to set up a portal on its website. Any consumer can lodge a complaint regarding misleading advertisements and keep track of remedial action being taken by Government.

·        An Integrated National Consumer Helpline has been set up by the Ministry, where consumers can lodge their grievances over telephone from any part of the country. Trained officials manning these centres not only provide pre-purchase advice but also take up the grievance of the consumers with concerned companies so that their grievances are resolved on priority.

 

Improving the foodgrain management

 

·        A high level committee of experts under the Chairmanship of Sh. Shanta Kumar, Member of Parliament has been setup on Aug 20, 2014 to recommend restructuring of Food Corporation India for improving  foodgrains  management in the country, efficient MSP operations, scientific storage and strengthening supply chain. The committee will submit its report to the Government within a period of three months.

·        Operations of FCI godowns are being computerised. In order to check reported leakage or theft from FCI godowns Depot online programme has been started. All Godowns of FCI will be online within next 18 months.

 

Computerisation of Public Distribution System (PDS)

 

·        States have been asked to make the PDS totally transparent by way of end to end computerisation so as to ensure that the benefits of National Food Security Act reach to deserving people.  They have been advised to list beneficiaries on web portal and display movement of ration and related information. Other communication modes like SMS should be explored to inform the beneficiaries about allocation.  Eleven states have implemented the Act, rest have been given three months more, beyond stipulated period, for implementation.

 

Administrative Restructuring

 

          To improve the efficiency and simplify the administrative procedures, Directorate of Sugar and Directorate of Vegetable, Vegetable Oils and Fats have been merged to create a single Directorate.

 

 

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NCJ/NN