In a populist measure targetting farmers, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Monday announced opening of 7,500 outlets at railway stations across the country to facilitate sale of their produce and offered export sop to those who pay suitable prices.
"Farmers are the backbone of the country. We have decided to open 7,500 outlets at railway stations for farmers to sale their local produce under the public-private partnership," he told a press confrence after a three-hour lecture at Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad.
He said those who offer suitable prices to farmers' produce, including vegetables, fruits and other items, would be allowed to even distribute and export them from the outlets.
Prasad said Railways' surplus land could be used for setting up the outlets.
He also announced the setting up of a railways chair in the IIM-A campus to conduct various studies funded by the railways.