Deputy Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Thursday suggested the creation of price stabilisation fund to tackle the problem of rising prices of essential commodities.
Addressing the inaugural meeting of the Working Group on Consumer Affairs in New Delhi, he said certain commodities, which were being subjected to steep price changes, needed to be purchased and sold at the cost price to control the prices. Under such circumstances, the proposed fund could be utilised by government agencies and cooperative institutions for buying and selling such commodities at the cost price.
He pointed out efforts being taken by the Tamil Nadu government and its agencies in making available through the public distribution system (PDS) essential commodities at reasonable rates.
Mr. Stalin wanted the Working Group to recommend that the commodities continued to be delisted from the Futures Market.
On the lines of Uzhavar Sandhai in Tamil Nadu and Ryot Bazaar in Andhra Pradesh, farmers' markets should be established in all States to facilitate direct marketing of produce by farmers to consumers. The Union government could frame a programme for funding the promotion of such markets.
Emphasising the importance of independent agencies in information-gathering on crops, Mr. Stalin said local primary agricultural co-operative societies, farmers' committees, agricultural universities and agricultural colleges could be involved in activities such as crop estimation. The data could be shared among stakeholders. Doordarshan should have a dedicated 24-hour channel for farmers. The content and operation of the channel should be State-specific. The cooperative sector, particularly agricultural marketing societies, should be assisted for taking up food processing and value addition as one of the priority functions. The present system of relying on import by Central Public Sector Undertakings was not working effectively. Like rice and wheat, the Union government should procure or import pulses and ensure a regular supply of pulses through the PDS. An incentive over and above minimum support price could be extended to commodities such as pulses and oilseeds so that farmers were assured of minimum profit and the area under the crops could be increased.
The Deputy Chief Minister made a call for redesigning the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to benefit farming activities and communities.
Mr. Stalin and Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers M. K. Alagiri met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed the progress of development projects in Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Alagiri extended an invitation to Mr. Singh for the wedding of his son, Duraidayanidhi, which is to take place next month.
