Even as the Union Food Ministry maintained that its recent decision to reduce the quantity of foodgrains a bidder can purchase under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) is to curb inflation, several States ruled by Opposition parties have started taking steps to manage foodgrains to be distributed under the Public Distribution System, which is not covered under the National Food Security Act.
The Centre had recently decided that the quantity that a bidder can purchase in a single bid under the OMSS (D) from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will range from 10-100 metric tonnes (MT). Earlier, the maximum quantity allowed was 3,000 MT per bid for a buyer. “The quantities have been reduced this time to accommodate more small and marginal buyers and to ensure wider reach of the scheme. This will facilitate the release of stocks sold under OMSS(D) to reach the general public immediately,” the Centre said in a press note.
