Rajya Sabha passes the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill by a voice vote on Tuesday. Cereals, pulses, oils, seeds, edible oils, onions, and potatoes have been removed from the list of essential commodities as per the new amendment.

“I want to assure that the changes made in the Act made in 1955 are with PM Modi’s vision. It is for the benefit of farmers, and consumers. Doubling farmers’ income is our pledge, and this bill is an important step towards fulfilling it,” Dadarao said in the Rajya Sabha.

This acts as important legislation that is pertaining to Essential Commodities. A number of these items have been delisted and are said to have important repercussions for trading and commerce in the farming sector.

“There was a problem of storage, and issues with the supply chain in the country. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill will give a push to the people involved in the supply chain. Investments in the farming sector will increase, and also the losses will be further cut down by the improvement in storage facility and increase in technology,” he added.

He also said that the stock limit conditions will now only be imposed in case of exceptional circumstances like floods, drought. The Bill was approved by the lower house earlier last week.

The Rajya Sabha passed the bill amid several Opposition members, including those from Congress, Samajwadi Party and others walking out over the issue of suspension of eight parliamentarians and the farm-related bills.

The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020, the National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020 and the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 were the other bills passed in the House.