Cottonseed now essential commodity

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday decided to bring cottonseed in the list of essential commodities and approved a package for the drought-hit Bundelkhand region. It also decided to introduce more pulses and vegetables in the meals provided to children in schools under the mid-day meals programme.

Cottonseed was deleted from the list of essential commodities when the Essential Commodities Act was amended in 2007.

The Union Cabinet’s decision to include cotton seed among essential commodities will help the government keep a check on the quality of cotton seed, especially those of the hybrid variety.

The Union Cabinet cleared a Rs 7,266-crore package for the development of Bundelkhand region, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ambika Soni said briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

A monitoring group will be set up to oversee the implementation of the package over a three-year period, starting from 2009-10. The Bundelkhand region comprises seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and six districts of Madhya Pradesh.

A part of the cost of the package will be met by converging resources from the on-going Central programmes and schemes.

Separately, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved changes in the mid-day meal scheme to include more pulses and vegetables and reduce oil to make the food more nutritious.

The revision would lead to an additional expenditure of Rs 10,140 crore for the Centre during the remaining period of the 11th Five Year Plan.