GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 815

ANSWERED ON:02.03.2010

COMMITTEE ON PRICES

(a)whether the Government has constituted a high level committee to study price rise and devise ways to control the same;

(b)if so, the details thereof and the terms of reference of the said committee alongwith the manner in which the committee proposes to check the price rise;

(c)the names of the essential commodities the prices of which were discussed during the conference on price rise;

(d)whether the Government has also issued certain directives/instructions to the States to control prices; and

(e)if so, the details thereof and the response of the States thereto? 

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K. V. THOMAS)

(a) & (b):A Core Group on prices of essential commodities is proposed to be constituted.

(c):The price rise of key essential commodities, such as rice, wheat, pulses, vegetables and sugar, were discussed during the conference.

(d) & (e):During the periodic meetings with the State Governments and UT Administrations, they were requested to initiate steps to bring down the prices. It has also been reiterated by the Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and the Prime Minister, that the State Governments have an important role in checking the rise in the prices of essential commodities through a set of administrative and regulatory measures. For instance, in Delhi, retail prices of essential commodities were reduced due to the market intervention by the State Government.