Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi visited Agartala from 28th to 29th December 2024 and attended multiple programs – EQ

In Short : Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi visited Agartala, Tripura (Dec 28-29, 2024), reviewing central schemes like PMGKAY and PM-KUSUM. He announced plans to double FCI’s storage capacity in Tripura and lauded solar energy advancements, now at 20.5 MW. His review of renewable energy initiatives highlighted enhanced agricultural productivity and infrastructure development in the state.

In Detail : Shri Joshi has accorded approval on principle to the state government’s proposal to set up a regional office of FCI at Agartala

Shri Pralhad Joshi reviewed the performance and implementation of key central schemes in Tripura including food grain storage, distribution, Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM KUSUM

PM KUSUM & MNRE initiatives led to the successful implementation of double cropping, and double income for the farmers

Modi government has extended this free ration scheme till December 31, 2028

PM Surya Ghar Yojana: with central subsidy and a concessional loan at 7%, consumers can start saving money immediately

New Delhi/Agartala – Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi visited Agartala from 28th to 29th December 2024 to attend multiple programs. His visit to Agartala has been a fruitful one.

During his visit to the state, the Minister visited the Food Corporation of India (FCI) office and the state godown on 28th December, where he took stock of the current situation, particularly in terms of food grain storage and distribution.

Later, he had a meeting with Chief Minister Shri Dr. Manik Saha and other officials to review the performance and implementation of key central schemes in Tripura.

Union Minister Shri Joshi also carried out detailed review of the FCI, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), and the implementation of MNRE schemes, like Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM KUSUM.

In these meetings, the discussions focused on addressing challenges and identifying solutions to enhance the implementation of these crucial programs in the state.

In the meeting, Union Minister Shri Joshi has accorded approval on principle to the state government’s proposal to set up a regional office of FCI at Agartala. This was resolved that for this upcoming FCI regional office, State govt shall identify land for this purpose.

Today, on 29th morning Union Minister Shri Joshi paid a divine Darshan of Maa Tripura Sundari, and thereafter he listened to PM Modi Ji’s Mann ki Baat program at Chandrapur Colony higher secondary school at Chandrapur under Matabari in Gomati district.

Later in the day, the Minister visited Charilam village to oversee a centrally sponsored renewable energy project taken up by the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) for the farmers and also reviewed the implementation MNRE schemes.

During the review of MNRE activities in the area, the Minister said 27 SPV Pumps covering 54 acres of land under PM- KUSUM Scheme (Component B) and 35 LED based SPV Street Lighting Systems under MNRE Scheme have been installed. He added that these initiatives have led to the successful implementation of double cropping, resulting in double income for the farmers.

Union Minister Shri Joshi said that the Government of India has recently approved a Private Enterprise Guarantee (PEG) scheme for enhancing storage space in North Eastern States. With this initiative, FCI aims to double its storage capacity in Tripura by constructing additional capacity of 70,000 MT in a two years’ time period.

He said today, India is providing free food grains to 81 crore people under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which is twice the population of the European Union. Under the scheme rice, wheat and coarse grains are being provided at free of cost to state identified beneficiaries as per local need. Modi government has extended this free ration scheme till December 31, 2028.

In the last 5-years under Decentralised Procurement mode, around 1.2 lakh MT Rice of MSP value Rs 360 cr has been procured in Tripura state benefitting around 94,000 farmers.

Recently, Central government has also extended the universal supply of fortified rice enriched with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 under all government welfare schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Integrated Child Development Services and PM POSHAN from July 2024 until December 2028. In year 2023-24, around 1.75 lakh MT Fortified rice was lifted/distributed under various welfare schemes in Tripura.

One Nation, One Ration Card plan has been implemented by all 36 States/UTs, across the country to benefit the migrant labourers, Shri Joshi said, adding that the beneficiaries are empowered to lift their entitled foodgrain from any Fair Price Shop of their choice, anywhere in the country.

He said in Tripura, total Portability Transactions under ONORC are 18.74 lakh and 100% ration cards have been seeded with Aadhar and all FPSs are ePOS enabled, averting leakage.

To protect the interest of the consumers in the country, the Strengthening of Consumer Commissions scheme is being implemented by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The Central Government has been providing financial assistance to the State Governments under the scheme to supplement the efforts of the State Governments In this, total funds released since inception to Tripura state is Rs. 3.65 cr.

To control price volatility, the Minister has underlined that the government maintains an onion buffer under the Price Stabilisation Fund. To make the disposal cost effective and efficient, for the first time, transportation of onions from Nashik to major destinations including Guwahati in the North-Eastern region have been carried out by rail.

He said the Union Ministry also provide grants in aid to States/ UTs for awareness generation amongst consumers about rights, under which, Rs. 40 lakh was released to Tripura in 2023-24.

Referring to the achievements in Renewable energy sector, the Minister said India has reached a significant milestone, with the country’s total renewable energy capacity reaching 214 GW. India is on-track to achieve 500 GW capacity by 2030 with initiatives like National Green Hydrogen Mission, PM-KUSUM PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and PLI schemes for solar PV modules.

Minister Joshi also urged to undertake initiatives to spread public awareness about PM Surya Ghar Yojana. He said the electricity tariff for domestic consumers in Tripura is around Rs. 5 per unit for usage above 200 units. With the MNRE subsidy and a concessional loan at 7%, consumers can start saving money immediately.

The cost of power purchase for Tripura DISCOM exceeds Rs. 5 per unit, as most of the power comes from gas-based plants. Installing solar power will reduce reliance on this high-cost energy and also help meet the RPO.

Shri Joshi has lauded initiatives of the state government in the sector, saying that Tripura has made good progress in the renewable energy sector. Before 2018, a total of 2.5 MW of electricity was generated through solar energy. In the last 6.5 years, the BJP-led govt in Tripura has increased the generation 10 times to more than 20.5 MW now.

Minister Joshi expressed confidence towards ever-enhancing collaboration with the state government, and said “Through our joint efforts, we will ensure better opportunities for the people of Tripura”.