Interests of farmers and consumers high on Govt. agenda, says Paswan

Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday said the interests of farmers and consumers are high on the agenda of the NDA

Government.

Highlighting the farmers' centric approach in its various initiatives, Paswan said government agencies have procured five lakh tons more of wheat than the last Rabi marketing season.

"In order to protect farmers' interests, the government not only relaxed quality norms for procurement, but also, decided to bear value cut if imposed for shriveled and broken grains, so that farmers get full minimum support price for the produce," said Paswan.

"The FCI has been asked to work out a plan for the procurement of pulses and oil seeds from farmers on the MSP and to adopt an aggressive paddy procurement plan in the regions where market price generally rules below the MSP and distress sale is reported, especially in Andhra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal," he added.

Paswan said to ensure implementation of the National Food Security Act more efficiently, the Centre has decided to bear 50 percent of the expenditure on the handling of food grains and on dealers' margin money.

"The rules for payment of food security allowance to beneficiaries, in the case of food grains, that is not made available to the beneficiaries, has also been finalised. On a pilot basis, the government is also working on direct transfer of food subsidy to beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act," he added.

Highlighting proposed plans of the government for consumer welfare, Paswan said that after a 360 degree review of the Consumer Protection Act, comprehensive amendments have finalised in the Act to ensure quick, inexpensive and simple redressal of consumer's grievances, enabling e-filing of cases and not requiring personal appearance till the stage of admission, and time bound admission of cases proposed.

On the occasion, Paswan also launched a mobile app enabling consumer to register their complaint against consumer products having ISI marks and quarterly news letter containing best practices of Targeted Public Distribution System.