Keeping prices of all essential food items under control and full digitisation of public distribution system (PDS) will be the priority for the Government in the new year, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Tuesday.
With the National Food Security law being rolled out across the country, Paswan said the government will now focus on its proper implementation and complete major reforms in the PDS, including 100 per cent Aadhar seeding of ration cards. The Minister, who is also in charge of consumer affairs department, said the Government will make efforts to pass the new Consumer Protection Bill in the forthcoming Budget session of Parliament after it remained hanging last year.
“During 2016, we were able to control the prices of pulses as well as sugar. This year, our focus will be to keep food inflation under check and protect consumers interest," Paswan told PTI in an interview. The Minister expressed confidence that there will not be a repeat of the pulses crisis this year as domestic production is expected to touch a record 20-21 million tonnes. Moreover, the Government is creating a buffer stock of 2 million tonnes which will be utilised in times of price rise.