Centre mulls selling pulses through private retail chains

Move comes as states show little interest in lifting pulses allocated to them

With states showing little interest in lifting pulses allocated by the Centre, the government is planning to tap private retail chains such as Big Bazaar to sell cheap pulses. The pulses would be sold under certain conditions.

The matter was discussed at a preliminary stage at a high-level meeting chaired by Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande on Tuesday.

Apart from private retail chains, the Centre could also look at the possibility of selling pulses directly through its own cooperative stores.

Since January, the central government has allocated 29,000 tonnes of pulses for direct distribution to consumers in as many as 11 states.

So far, only three states — Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana — have lifted the same (around 16 per cent).

The Department of Consumer Affairs has repeatedly urged state governments to lift pulses (tur and urad) from the buffer stock for distribution at not more than Rs 120 a kg.

“All possibilities are being explored to ensure pulses procured by the Centre for building the buffer stock reach the consumers at cheap rates at least during the festivals,” said a senior official.

The government recently decided to double the size of pulses stock from 0.8 million tonnes to two million tonnes, which would be built through domestic procurement and local purchases.

It has further decided to import 20,000 tonnes of chana and 80,000 tonnes of masoor to strengthen  buffer stock.

The government has so far procured 139,000 tonnes of pulses from the domestic market and farmers and 56,000 tonnes of pulses have been contracted for import. 'PULSE' OF THE MATTER

• Since January, the central government has allocated 29,000 tonnes of pulses for direct distribution in 11 states
• So far, only three states — Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana — have lifted pulses
• The Department of Consumer Affairs has repeatedly urged state governments to lift pulses (tur and urad) from the buffer stock for distribution at not more than Rs 120 a kg
• The government recently decided to double the size of pulses stock from 0.8 mn tonnes to 2 mn tonnes
• It has further decided to import 20,000 tonnes of chana and 80,000 tonnes of masoor to strengthen buffer stock