Inflationary pressure exists in growing economy

Maintaining that some inflationary pressure will remain in a growing economy,finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today urged states to strengthen PDS to enable the government insulate the poor from the adverse impact of inflation.

Replying to members concerns during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha,Mukherjee said the Centre is waiting for a report on how to strengthen and restructure the existing PDS in the country. He informed the House that a committee consisting of some chief ministers to look into the issue was constituted in February last year after a conference of chief ministers here whose report is awaited.

Admitting that there was a big difference between the price paid to a producer and the one paid by a consumer,Mukherjee said,We shall have to take steps but this cannot be tackled by the central government alone. He was responding to a question by Congress member T Ratna Bai who asked the government about the measures being taken to control inflation.

We can reduce the impact of high rising prices8230; If we could develop PDS,at least we would be able to protect these vulnerable sections, Mukherjee said.