The sale of ‘Bharat’ Rice was launched by Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Feb 6, 2024, with a view of enhancing the market supplies at affordable prices and supporting consumer welfare. Provided in retail under the brand name ‘Bharat’ rice was sold for subsidized prices at Rs 29 per kg to provide relief from the recent surge in retail rice prices by 15%. Initially, about a hundred mobile vans were sent in this regard. The government’s focus on national needs was underscored at this event especially regarding controlling essential commodity prices.
Availability of Bharat Rice:
Packaged in convenient bags of 5 and 10 kilograms, Bharat rice will be easily found at all Kendriya Bhandar, NAFED, and NCCF physical outlets and their mobile counterparts. Additionally, it will also be available through other retail channels and e-commerce platforms ensuring its accessibility to the masses nationwide priced not more than Rs 29/kg. In phase one FCI shall make available five hundred thousand tons of grain for NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd), NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India), and Kendriya Bhandar. The existing number of retail points including mobile vans and e-commerce sites would be scaled up from about 8,000-9,000 to nearly 18000. Conclusion:
This initiative emphasized the government’s unwavering support for both farmers and consumers. The introduction of retail sales for ‘Bharat’ Rice seeks to improve market availability, resulting in consistent price control for this essential food item. This measure is in line with the government’s continuous efforts to prioritize consumer well-being. The government hopes to get a good response for ‘Bharat rice’ as it has for ‘Bharat atta’, which is being sold at ₹27.5 per kg, and ‘Bharat chana’ at ₹60 per kg through the same agencies. Also, it will provide relief to middle-class consumers and the poor.
