The Government of India has sufficient stock of rice. It will therefore intervene in the market to control prices. For this, not once or twice: the government will intervene as many times as it is needed. Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said that sufficient food grains in India can be used in 140 states instead of a specific category of people.

He said that this will be done for the benefit of crores (tens of millions) of Indians. 

Government ready to change the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) policy

 Last week, a meeting was held with the Food Ministers of 17 states in India. In this meet, 16 states agreed that the rice reserves should be used for 140 crore (1.4 billion) people instead of one state. Karnataka was the only state which was in favor of extending its benefits to the states.

Chopra said that  the country needs 360 lakh (36 million) tonnes of paddy for various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana under food security. The Center is not meant to benefit only a few states and a few people. 

Production has decreased by 13 percent in the last two-three years, as El Nino conditions persist. There has been a decrease in the production of paddy and wheat, so the country has to keep enough stock which can meet the needs of the people.

Source: Amarujala.com