Concerned over the countrys rising food subsidy bill, the Centre has asked states to reduce their statutory and overhead charges on the minimum support price (MSP) of foodgrains, which include mandi fees, arathia commission and development fees, to 2% or less.
WhilePunjaband Haryana add a maximum charge of 6% and 4% on theMSPrespectively, four other states Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and levy charges more than 2%.
According to the 2020-21 annual report of Food Corporation of India (Fci), it paid Rs 5,550 crore to the states. Making a detailed presentation before food ministers and secretaries from states, the food ministry has urged them to reduce such charges to help lower the subsidy burden.
The ministry urged the state governments to float tenders for getting short-term cash credit loans (CCl) to get a lower interest rate. It cited how the FCI has got short-term loans at an interest rate of less than 5%. The Centre has also asked states to transport paddy from mandis to mills directly and thereby avoiding storage expenses.