The consumption of cereals reduced drastically, along with pulses, vegetables, edible oils, salt and sugar. There is a similar decline in expenditure on education, fuels and light, clothing and footwear.Experts say expenditure on cereals has reduced owing to government welfare schemes.“The Union government, as well as many state governments, provides free cereals under different schemes such as PMGKY, which prompt consumers to spend less on it,” said PC Mohanan, India’s former chief statistician. He further said that in urban areas, people started buying food from outside and this could also be a reason for spending less on cereals and pulses.Inflation has impacted consumption patterns as well. “The high prices of pulses, vegetables and edible oils in the past few years have impacted consumers all across the country,” said a senior official at the Department of Consumer Affairs. The government has been taking various measures to control prices in the last few years.“Spending less on fuel and light is also due to the Ujjwala scheme and solar schemes providing cheap energy sources,” said Mohanan.
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