No proposal to provide food subsidy directly to consumer: Pawar

The government today said there was no specific proposal to provide food subsidy directly to the consumers as part of measures to control rising food prices.

The government has formulated schemes/action plans, including curb on demand from bulk consumers, shoring up of supply and rejuvenating distribution system, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Pawar said in Lok Sabha during the Question Hour.

"There is no specific proposal where one can provide a subsidy directly to the consumers. But in targeted Public Distribution System (PDS) at every level there is a substantial provision of subsidy," he said.

In fact, Pawar said, this year the total burden of subsidy for PDS will be close to Rs 55,000 crore. "That burden is already taken by the government and this facility is available to all the states," he added.

On the issue of merging Forward Market Commission (FMC), a regulatory body for commodity markets, with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the minister said "no final view has been taken in this regard. There is a proposal in front of the government and an appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time."

Sanjay Nirupam (Cong) had asked the minister about the commodity markets being merged with the Sebi.