The DoC came up with the proposal on the back of growing complaints from consumers about the ballooning price of essential goods, and taking into consideration a study report on price hike prepared by the government three years back.[break]
The DoC proposed the Food and Price Control Policy envisaging tax exemption on food commodities including rice, pulses, edible oils, sugar and refined floor. Similarly, market intervention has been proposed to control vegetable prices through cooperatives.
“We have drafted the policy with the main objective of facilitating availability of essential goods at fair prices. We will finalize the draft after consultations with stakeholders,” said Anil Thakur, director general of DoC.
The government had conducted a study on price hike in essential commodities through a high-level committee led by Yuva Raj Khatiwada, then vice-chairman of National Planning Commission, in 2007.
The draft will be sent to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), which will forward it to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for its consent.
Similarly, the DoC has also proposed a system in which the government can intervene in the market by supplying and transporting produce and mobilizing cooperatives to procure from farmers at fair price to eliminate exploitation by middlemen.
The draft has also proposed subsidized food items for the poor through the introduction of ration cards.
The policy has envisaged fixing the price of essential food items.
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