The central government on Thursday launched a retail sale of onions at a fixed price of Rs 35 per kilogram across select localities in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Mumbai, effective from the same day. Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi flagged off the mobile vans selling onion at the said price. The central onion offer stock of the kitchen staple stands at 4.7 lakh tonnes from the rabi crop, said Joshi. 

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As part of the scheme, food cooperatives NCCF and NAFED deployed their mobile vans in 40 vicinities located in the NCR and Mumbai on Thursday, according to an official statement.

Keeping food inflation under control is a priority of the central government of India, with several direct interventions through price stabilisation measures having played an important role in easing inflation, said Joshi. 

“The onion buffer stock available with us is 4.7 lakh tonnes from the rabi crop. The Price Stabilisation Fund which was started under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi aims at intervening in the market when price of essential commodities increase,” Joshi said. 

He also said that the retail sale of onions will provide relief to the consumers across the country.

"The targeted disposal of onion is being started with (the) retail sale through outlets and mobile vans of NCCF and NAFED, e-commerce platforms and outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and SAFAL in major consumption centres. The quantity and disposal channels for onion will be enhanced, deepened, intensified and diversified as per the trend in onion prices," said the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. 

The Department of Consumer Affairs is monitoring the daily prices of 38 commodities, including onions, reported from 550 centres across the country, it added.

 

Localities covered in Delhi NCR and Mumbai with effect from September 5 

 
1. South Extension 11. Yamuna Vihar 21. Nehru place 31. Golf Course Noida
2. CGO 12. Model Town 22. Rajiv Chowk Metro Station 32. Sector 50, Noida
3. Krishi Bhawan 13.  Laxmi Nagar 23. Patel Chowk Metro Station 33. Vasundhara, Ghaziabad
4. NCUI Complex 14. Chattarpur 24. NCCF Office Sector 4 34. Indirapuram, Ghaziabad
5. Dwarka Sector 1 15. Mehrauli 25. Filmcity Noida 35. Sahibabad
6. Rohini Sector 2 16. Trilokpuri 26. Gaur City Noida 36.  Sector 19 Noida
7.Gurugram Civil line 17. Britania Chowk 27. Sector 1, Greater Noida 37. Sector 58 Noida
8. R. K Puram Sector 10 18. Najafgarh 28. Ashok Nagar 38. Amrapali Sector 45
9.   Jasola 19. Mayapuri 29. Sector 62, Noida 39. Lower Parel, Mumbai
10. Nandnagri Block B 20. Lodhi Colony 30. Botanical Garden 40. Malad, Mumbai
 

The government said that agencies will cover Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Raipur, and Bhubaneshwar in a week, followed by pan-India distribution by the thuird week of September.

Agencies are also tying up with other cooperatives and big retail chains across the country, the ministry noted.