gÉÉŌ A.]ÉŌ. xÉÉxÉÉ

03.08.2010
things would have been somewhat easy. I think that the action taken against the
hoarders / speculators / black marketeers by the Central Government or the law
enforcing States are very minimal. I would like to cite a few examples. The
persons arrested for hoarding / speculating / black marketing under the Essential
Commodities Act in West Bengal is 117; in Uttar Pradesh is 1,023; in Maharashtra
is 2,565; in Gujarat is 30; in Andhra Pradesh is 43; in Karnataka is 137; in Kerala
is 21; and in Tamil Nadu it is 4,775. That shows the prudent and effective
administration of my leader Dr. Kalaignar. … (Interruptions)
16.03 hrs (Shri Inder Singh Namdhari in the Chair)
In Tamil Nadu alone 16,404 raids have been conducted, and 4,775 people
have been arrested. In India, a total of 9,012 people have been arrested, and in
Tamil Nadu alone 4,775 people have been arrested. This shows the proper
administrative mechanism that is in place in the Government of Tamil Nadu under
the able leadership of my leader Dr. Kalaignar. … (Interruptions)
What is the action to be taken? Since, a high level of inflation of food
articles is affecting the poor due to inefficient supply side management, the
Government should come out with a long-term plan. Secondly, fuel inflation has
contributed to inflation of non-food manufactured articles, which affects the poor,
transport and industries by cost push inflation. Hence, macro-economic
management has to be tuned up. Thirdly, inflation in non-food manufactured
articles is more than visible because of demand side factors. Hence, the RBI
should intervene and take corrective measures to provide better monetary policy.
What is the experience in Tamil Nadu? The State of Tamil Nadu is
adopting the universal distribution system.
There is no APL. APL and BPL put together, there are 1.97 crore
cardholders. We are issuing rice at one rupee per kilo by adopting the universal
public distribution system to all the 1.97 crore cardholders. All the food grains
have been exempted from VAT, except wheat on which two per cent CST is being
charged. We need 3.16 lakh tonnes of rice whereas the Central Government is
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