With a weak monsoon on cards and rise in food prices, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the States to set up fast-track courts to deal with hoarders and black-marketers. He also pushed for a close coordination between the Centre and States on implementing contingency plans. The Agriculture Ministry has made contingency plans for more than 500 districts.
The Centre has convened a conference of State Food Ministers on July 4, which will be chaired by the Finance Minister, here to discuss measures to check inflation and also to dwell on an action plan for early implementation the Food Security Act. With 25 states and UTs yet to roll out the food security law, the Centre on Thursday gave three more months to them for implementing the landmark Act that will push up the food subsidy bill to Rs1.31 lakh crore. “Only 5 states have so far fully implemented the food law and another 6 have rolled out it partially,” Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ramvilas Paswan, said.
Modi, who held a meeting with his Cabinet colleagues to review the progress of monsoon and steps taken to contain inflation, directed that adequate water, power and seed supply should be ensured to the farmers so that the production is not affected due to scant rainfall.
Though the monsoon has been weak, it is likely to “improve substantially” in the next two months. Steps taken to contain inflation have shown “positive effect”, the meeting discussed. Modi “stressed on the need for both the centre and states to proactively mount a coordinated effort in implementing the advance action plan for the monsoon, with districts, rather than states, being the unit of planning”, said a PMO statement issued after over two-hour-long meeting.
“It was observed that the measures are having a positive effect, with adequate rice stocks reaching markets,” the statement said, adding there is now no shortage of onion stocks in Delhi.With regard to situation of water reservoirs and fodder stock, the Prime Minister directed that maximum possible use be made of the existing water resources, and best practices be applied in rainwater harvesting.
He also emphasised on ensuring adequate power and seed availability for the agricultural sector, and directed that NREGA be used to generate rural employment, if necessary.The meeting was attended by Ministers for Home, Finance, Agriculture, Food and Consumer Affairs and Water Resources besides Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister and Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister.
IMD officials were also present. The country has received 45 per cent less rainfall in the first spell till June 17. The Met department has forecast monsoon to be below normal at 93 per cent of the long period average.Rising prices of essential food items like vegetables, fruits and cereals pushed up wholesale price index based inflation to five-month high of 6.01 per cent in May.Price of potatoes and onion have risen to about Rs25-30 per kg in the national capital.