The Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) is a government initiative aimed at ensuring food security and stabilizing prices by selling wheat and rice in the open market. Here are the key points about the scheme:
1. Objective: The primary objective of OMSS is to reduce excess stock of wheat and rice held by the government.
2. Selling surplus stocks: Under the scheme, the government sells its surplus stock of wheat and rice through open market auctions.
3. Participating agencies: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies are responsible for selling the grains through a transparent bidding process.
4. Quantity and quality: The government specifies the quantity and quality of grains to be sold, ensuring that only surplus stocks are released in the open market.
5. Prices: The grains are sold at market rates decided through the bidding process, ensuring fair competition.
6. Beneficiaries: Consumers, traders, and bulk purchasers can participate in the bidding and purchase grains under OMSS.
7. Impact: OMSS creates a level playing field in the market, stabilizes prices, reduces wastage of food grains, and provides an additional source of income for the government.
These points provide a brief explanation of the Open Market Sale Scheme for wheat and rice.