Govt defers call on hiking sugar price

New Delhi: Keeping the festive season in mind, the Manmohan Singh government, which is on a reforms-fiscal correction mode, hit the pause button on Monday, deferring a decision on scrapping subsidy on levy sugar under the public distribution system (PDS) quota. Removing the subsidy would have meant a steep hike in the price of the commodity to Rs 23 per kg from Rs 13.50/kg. 

    The relief is expected to last till December. 
    The Cabinet also did not take up the proposal to computerize PDS, a move aimed at digitizing ration cards, and fully computerize the supply management chain of the Food Corporation of India. 
    But in a major relief for the common man, the Union Cabinet on Monday extended a control order on commodities from October 2012 to September 2013, which will help moderate prices of pulses, edible oils and oilseeds and ensure their availability at fair prices. 
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New Delhi: The Union Cabinet's decision to extend a control order on commodities to September 2013 will enable state governments to continue with effective de-hoarding operations under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Aiming to tackle under-nutrition in children below three years, the Cabinet has paved the way for the rollout of a restructured Integrated Child Development Scheme in the 12th five year Plan (2012-17). The cabinet committee on economic affairs has cleared the plan with estimated financial implications of Rs 123,580 crore. The restructured ICDS will be launched in the next three years, starting with 200 high-burden districts identified by the government. 
    The flagship scheme, which focuses on maternal and child health and nutrition, will emphasize early development in all children below six years of age, improved care and nutrition of girls and women and reduce by a fifth anemia prevalence in young children, girls and women.