The Centre’s niggardly allocation of free foodgrain
May 31, 2021
Safety net The government must expand, both the quantum and duration, of its free distribution of foodgrain - Srinivasan KV
Safety net The government must expand, both the quantum and duration, of its free distribution of foodgrain - Srinivasan KV×
Free foodgrain to targeted beneficiaries has been a major plank of the Centre’s safety net during lockdowns. But both in terms of need and state capacity, that effort has been limited
With India experiencing a severe second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing decentralised lockdowns, a crisis of loss of jobs and livelihoods and resulting hunger is being reported from across the country.
: Monday, May 31, 2021, 3:18 PM IST
Check import of soybean oil via Nepal flouting rules of origin, urges trade body to govt
Soybean
Edible oil trade body SEA on Monday urged the government to check huge import of soybean oil at zero duty from Nepal flouting rules of origin, saying this may lead to an annual revenue loss of Rs 1,200 crore to the exchequer and hurt domestic refiners.
Customs duty is fully exempted on goods exported to India by the five least developed SAARC countries. Taking advantage of this exemption, palm oil and soybean oil are being imported via Nepal and Bangladesh in big quantities, it said.
Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) vice president Dulu Ahmed in a press meet said that the common public is facing a grim condition due to the constant hike in essential commodities.
Supermarkets, hypermarkets and department stores with operations limited to food and beverages (F&B) and basic necessities, pharmacies or personal care stores, mini marts, grocery stores as well as restaurants in shopping malls are allowed to operate with full staff capacity during the full lockdown from tomorrow