Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday launched the sale of ‘Bharat Dal,’ a brand of subsidised chana dal. This initiative offers consumers the opportunity to purchase one kilogram packs at a rate of INR 60 per kg and 30-kilogram packs at INR 55 per kg.
Chana dal is currently being sold at the retail outlets of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in the Delhi-NCR region.
The implementation of the ‘Bharat Dal’ initiative by the Central Government is a significant measure aimed at ensuring the availability of pulses to consumers at reasonable prices. This initiative involves the conversion of the government’s chana stock into chana dal, thereby making it more accessible and affordable for the general public.
NAFED is responsible for milling and packaging the chana dal, which is then distributed through its retail outlets in Delhi-NCR. Additionally, the chana dal is also made available through the outlets of NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar, and Safal.
Under this arrangement, the provision of chana dal extends to state governments for utilization in their welfare schemes, as well as for provisions in police departments, jails, and distribution through consumer cooperative outlets affiliated with them.
Chana holds the distinction of being India’s most prolifically cultivated pulse, enjoyed in various forms throughout the nation.