Centre to resume sale of rice from FCI stocks from Aug
The Indian government will resume selling rice to state governments from August 1, 2024, after a 13-month halt. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will sell rice at ₹2,800 per quintal to non-surplus states without e-auction, while private players will have to participate in e-auction at the same base price. The decision comes after the Centre stopped rice sales in June 2023, citing the need to maintain buffer stocks and control prices, which was criticized by Congress as an attempt to thwart their welfare scheme in Karnataka.
New Delhi: Govt will resume selling rice to state govts from the stock held by Food Corporation of India (FCI) from Aug 1. This comes more than 13 months after the Centre stopped the rice sale claiming it was done to “maintain buffer stocks and control prices”. The decision in June 2023 had come under attack from Congress as the party claimed the move was meant to thwart it from fulfilling its promise of giving
5 kg extra rice free to the poor under “Anna Bhagya” scheme in Karnataka, reports Dipak Dash.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, food and consumer affairs ministry said, “Govts of non-surplus states which require additional rice to meet their requirements will be allowed to purchase rice under Open Market Sale Scheme (domestic) without participating in e-auction with effect from Aug 1, 2024.”
FCI will offload rice to state govts at Rs 2,800 per quintal from next month without eauction. Though base price will be same for private players to buy in bulk, they will have to take part in e-auction.
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