New Delhi: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal, today launched the sale of subsidised chana dal under the brand name ‘Bharat Dal’ at the rate of Rs 60 per kg for one kg pack and Rs 55 per kg for 30 kg pack.
The introduction of ‘Bharat Dal’ is a major step taken by the Central Government towards making pulses available to consumers at affordable prices by converting the chana stock of the government into dal, according to the Ministry.
The milling and packaging of the chana dal is undertaken by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) for distribution through its retail outlets in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and also through the outlets of the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF), Kendriya Bhandar and Safal.
The chana dal, under this arrangement, is also made available to state governments for supplies under their welfare schemes, police, and jails, and also for distribution through their consumer cooperative outlets.
It may be mentioned that chana is the most abundantly produced pulse in India which is consumed in several forms all over the country. Chana whole is soaked and boiled to make salad and roasted chana is served as snacks. Fried chana dal can also be used as an alternative to tur dal, curries and soups. Chana besan is a major ingredient for namkeens and sweets.
Chana has multiple nutritional health benefits as it is rich in fibre, iron, potassium, vitamin B, selenium beta carotene and choline which are required by the human body for controlling anaemia, blood sugar, bone health and even for mental health.
– global bihari bureau
