By converting a necessity into a virtue, the government has decided to release the large inventory of procured pulses to different States at a discounted rate for utilisation in various welfare programs.
Necessity because the stocks continue to occupy scarce warehousing space and incur huge carrying costs.
Also, the Centre thinks, warehousing space may be needed during the upcoming kharif harvest less than six weeks away; and of course, demand for food commodities including pulses usually spikes during the festival season that runs from August to October.
While the decision to liquidate the stocks is welcome, it is a half-hearted measure that seeks to deal with disposal of accumulated stocks in a routine manner without taking into consideration the propensity (or otherwise) of States to absorb such supplies. We have seen in the past reluctance on the part of State governments to lap up food commodities offered by the Centre. So, pulses this time may be no different.
Unfortunately, the lack of ‘political will’ to include pulses under the public distribution system as the Centre’s responsibility (in addition to wheat and rice) is palpable; and in some way it is seen as abdication of a sovereign duty. In case of pulses and edible oil, why pass on the choice of items under public distribution to the States?
Protein-rich pulses
It is common knowledge that the country’s nutrition status is poor. Large sections of the country’s population are under-fed. Under-nutrition is pervasive and protein-deficiency stark. This has long-term adverse consequences on the economy including lower labour productivity and higher healthcare costs.
Pulses offer the most economical vegetable protein to the vulnerable sections of the population who in fact deserve to eat more protein at affordable rates; and there are political gains to be had by including pulses under PDS with elections round the corner. It is unclear what’s holding up a rational decision.
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