Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said prices of perishable items have come down and are well within the tolerance band. To a query raised by AIADMK’s M Thambi Durai on the rise in retail inflation, during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, she detailed the interventions made by her government to keep in check the price rise.
“The prices have started coming down and are well within the tolerance band. Lots of steps have been taken by the government, particularly for meeting the shortage in supply of perishables,” Nirmala Sitharaman said. Retail inflation in India, though, is in the RBI’s 2-6 per cent comfort level but is above the ideal 4 per cent scenario. In December, the retail inflation was 5.69 per cent.
Till January 2024, about 2.97 lakh tonnes of chana have been sold at subsidized rates. “This Bharat Dal that is coming out at a concessional price is available on ONDC, Blinkit, Jio Mart, and all other big retail outlets. Such steps are also being for tomatoes and others as well,” she said. Onion, another perishable, is also being offloaded in the market at a subsidized rate of Rs 25. Faced with rising onion prices, the central government has been releasing the staple vegetable from its buffer stock. Buffer stock is maintained to meet any exigencies and for price stabilisation if rates go up significantly during the lean supply season. Export restrictions were also imposed on the staple vegetable. “We have curtailed their exports so that their prices can be kept within a reasonable limit,” Nirmala Sitharaman said.