GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,

FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1594

ANSWERED ON:02.12.2014

PRICE RISE

ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY

(a) whether the Government has taken note of the rise in prices of various essential commodities like foodgrains, pulses, edible oils and vegetables in the country during the recent months;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has made any assessment regarding the factors contributing to price rise,including losses due to flood;

(d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof along with corrective action taken in this regard; and

(e) the details of the cases of hoarding and blackmarketing detected/reported alongwith the action taken against those held responsible and to check recurrence of such cases during each of the last three years and the current year and the success achieved therein, State-wise?

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIONbe pleased to state:- 

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS,

FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE)

(a) to (d): Madam, as per Wholesale Price Index (WPI), over the last six months (May-October 2014) the inflation rate for major essential commodities showed a decline except for pulses when compared to the corresponding period of last year(May- October 2013) as shown below:

Price trends based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) over the last six months

Besides adverse weather conditions, price rise of essential food items are due to several factors such as rise in transportation costs, supply constraints and artificial shortages due to hoarding and black-marketing. Government has initiated several measures to contain price rise and improve the availability of essential food items. The recent steps taken in this regard are at Annexure-I. (e): The details are at Annexure-II