'Bharat Rice' To Be Available In Lucknow This Week

Lucknow, February 13 (TNA) With the aim of controlling inflation, the sale of 'Bharat Rice' at cheaper rates will start in Lucknow from this week. Common people will get this rice at the rate of Rs 29 per kg. Apart from the mobile van of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), this rice will also be available to the common people at Reliance Smart Market and Smart Point.

This information was given by NAFED State Head Rohit Jaiman. He told TNA that Bharat brand rice will be in five kg and 10 kg bags. The sale will be at the rate of Rs 29 per kg. Bharat Rice will also be available at Smart Bazaar and Smart Point from this week. Bharat rice will also be sold from more than a hundred vans at discounted rates along with Bharat flour (Rs 27.50 per kg), Bharat dal chana (Rs 60 per kg).

Retail prices of rice increased by 15 percent in the last one year. Meanwhile, to provide relief to consumers, the government on Tuesday offered 'Bharat Rice' at a concessional rate of Rs 29 per kg. After 'Bharat Atta' and 'Bharat Dal', the government has started it. Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal introduced the subsidized rice available in packs of 5 kg and 10 kg.

While doing so he said that the government is trying to ensure that daily food items are available to the common people at affordable rates. Goyal said, 'When wholesale intervention (to control prices) was not benefiting many people, retail intervention under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) was started.' To provide relief to middle class consumers and the poor, rice will be retailed at Rs 29 per kg under the 'Bharat Brand'. Each kg of 'Bharat Rice' will contain five percent broken rice.

The government's efforts have already helped in bringing down the prices of tomato and onion sharply. The minister said, 'Ever since we started selling 'Bharat Atta', wheat inflation has been zero in the last six months. We will see the same effect in rice.' He emphasized that the prices of the items going on the plates of middle class people are quite stable. Goyal said, 'The government is active in making daily essential items available at affordable rates.'