The era of affordability has returned for the middle class as the government’s ‘Bharat Brand’ of low-cost flour and rice makes a comeback in the market. The initiative aims to provide essential rations to the public at accessible and budget-friendly prices. The second phase of this scheme was launched on Tuesday.
The government sells flour and rice under the ‘Bharat’ brand at a subsidized rate. It is delivered to the customers with the help of the government’s cooperative society. These include the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) and Kendriya Bhandar. The government also sells some of it on e-commerce platforms.
This is the price of ‘Bharat’ goods now
In the second phase, the government has launched wheat flour at Rs 30 per kg and rice at Rs 34 per kg under the ‘Bharat’ brand. These two weights will be available in packets of 5 kg and 10 kg. However, the price of goods kept by the government this time is slightly higher than in the first phase of this scheme. Then the price of flour was Rs 27.5 and the price of rice was Rs 29 per kg.
Food Minister Pralhad Joshi flagged off the mobile vans of these cooperative societies delivering these goods on Tuesday. He said that this is a temporary intervention by the government to provide relief to the common citizens in the country.
The government has purchased so much grain
The government has started the second phase for Bharat Brand under the Price Stabilization Fund to control inflation in the country. Under this, 3.69 lakh tonnes of wheat and 2.91 lakh tonnes of rice have been allocated from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for flour.
Pralhad Joshi said that goods will continue to be available under the Bharat brand until the allocated stock is exhausted. If more ration is needed, the government has sufficient stock. The government will allocate ration again.
On the low sale of rice in the first phase, the minister said that the government’s aim is not to do business. Rather, the government’s aim is to provide relief to the customers and control prices in the market. If demand is seen in the market, the government will consider bringing smaller size packets.