Centre Launches 'Bharat Atta' At Subsidised Rate Of Rs 27.50/Kg Ahead Of Diwali

'Bharat Atta' will be sold through cooperatives NAFED, NCCF, and Kendriya Bhandar through 800 mobile vans and 2,000-odd outlets in the country

To provide relief to consumers from soaring wheat prices, the central government has launched the sale of wheat flour at a subsidised rate of Rs 27.50 per kg under the brand name 'Bharat Atta' across the country ahead of Diwali. 'Bharat Atta' will be sold through cooperatives NAFED, NCCF, and Kendriya Bhandar through 800 mobile vans and 2,000-odd outlets in the country, the PTI reported. 'Bharat Atta' will be available at a subsidised rate, lower than the prevailing market rate of Rs 36-70 per kg, depending on the quality and location.

The Centre in February this year had carried out a pilot sale of 18,000 tonnes of 'Bharat Atta' at Rs 29.50 per kg via these cooperatives in few outlets as part of the Price Stabalisation Fund scheme.

Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, who flagged off 100 mobile vans of 'Bharat Atta', said, "Now that we have tested and been successful, we decided to do a formal launch so that everywhere in the country can get atta at Rs 27.50 per kg." The sale of wheat flour during the test run was less as it was retailed only through a few outlets. However, there will be a better pick up this time as the product will be sold via 800 mobile vans and 2,000 outlets of these three agencies across the country, Goyal said.

The minister said about 2.5 lakh tonnes of wheat will be allocated from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at Rs 21.50 per kg to Nafed, NCCF, and Kendriya Bhandar. They will convert it into wheat flour and sell at Rs 27.50 per kg under the brand 'Bharat Atta' brand. This will help boost availability and check rates of wheat flour.

The Centre's intervention of selling few essential commodities such as chana dal, tomato, and onion at a subsidised rate is yielding good results in taming price rise, Goyal said, while adding, the mobile vans and outlets of these three agencies will sell these commodities, wheat flour at Rs 27.50 per kg, chana dal at Rs 60 per kg, and onion at Rs 25 per kg.

Ministers of State for Food and Consumer Affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, and other senior officials were present at the event.