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Delhi to get subsidised onions as retail price crosses Rs 60/kg
Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs B.L. Verma (Sirsa) announced Monday that the government is ready to sell subsidised onions in Delhi to counter the sharp rise in retail…
Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs B.L. Verma (Sirsa) announced Monday that the government is ready to sell subsidised onions in Delhi to counter the sharp rise in retail prices. The minister said plans for subsidised sales through mobile vans and designated outlets are already in place, and a final decision on the launch date will be taken soon. Onion prices in the national capital have climbed past Rs 60 per kilogram in recent weeks, driven by reduced supply from key producing states.
The government's buffer stock maintained by Nafed and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation is sufficient to begin distribution, the minister stated. A similar subsidised sale was conducted last year through mobile vans in Delhi, which had provided onions at Rs 35 per kg. The ministry is currently monitoring wholesale mandi rates in Lasalgaon and Azadpur to calibrate the subsidy level.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Onion prices hit consumers hardest in urban markets where the difference between farm-gate and retail rates can exceed 100%. The government holds a buffer stock through Nafed and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation, which it can release at subsidised rates during shortages. Last year, a similar intervention in October stabilised prices within two weeks after retail rates crossed Rs 60/kg in Delhi. The effectiveness of Monday's announcement will depend on how many tonnes of stock are allocated and whether distribution points reach neighbourhood-level vendors, not just fixed fair-price shops. The nodal ministry will announce the quantum and logistics before the first sales begin.
Source: odishatv.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
