New Delhi, Aug 31 (Agency) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCA) has approved the disposal of chana to states or Union Territories at discounted rate to be utilized for welfare schemes procured under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), the government said on Wednesday. Under the scheme, states and Union Territories are offered 15 lakh tonnes of chana at a discounted Rs 8 per kg on first come first serve basis, an official statement said.
This will be one-time dispensation for a period of 12 months or till complete disposal of 15 lakh tonnes stock of chana whichever is earlier, the statement said.The government will spend Rs 1,200 crore to implement the scheme.”The decision will enable the states/UTs to use chana in various welfare schemes like PDS and Mid-Day Meal besides making available space of warehouses, which may be required in coming Rabi season for accommodating fresh stocks… (This) will help in getting remunerative price of pulses to the farmers besides encouraging more farmers to grow such pulses. Moreover, this also helps in achieving self-sufficiency of such pulses in our country,” the statement said.