With inflation still in double digit, the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Food will meet here on Friday to discuss food security, and the availability and prices of essential commodities.
It was not clear whether the meeting, to be chaired by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, will discuss the Planning Commission's suggestions on the proposed National Food Security Bill in the absence of Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who is abroad.
At its last meeting, the EGoM authorised the Commission to arrive at poverty estimates and work out the logistics for launching the Bill. The Commission has prepared a note as reported in The Hindu .
The meeting will take a view on the sugar industry's demand to reduce the levy requirement imposed on them for Below Poverty Line beneficiaries under the public distribution system. Last year, when there was sugar shortage and the prices shot up to Rs 48 a kg, the government raised the industry's levy obligation from 10 to 20 per cent. Now, with the situation easing, thanks to imported sugar, the industry has sought a review of this condition.
The EGoM, of which Union Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar is a member, will also look at expanding the sale of wheat in the open market to more stakeholders other than bulk buyers under the Open Market Sale Scheme. This may include wholesalers, retailers and traders.
In the case of pulses, the EGoM will review the availability of tur, urad and moong, the prices of which are still ruling high in the open market. It will review the measures for increasing the area under pulses.
