Unstable Government, Rising Prices

The spectre of spiralling prices haunts the common man even as the state government is engrossed in setting up its own house in order with dissensions coming to the fore within the ruling party.

With the exception of lip sympathy, no concrete measures have been taken up so far to contain the prices of essential commodities.

That stability is the main factor which holds the key to curb price rise has been proved beyond doubt.

The administration headed by bureaucrats is in no mood to set the record straight on its own. Meanwhile, middlemen are making hay, worrying both the producer and the consumer.

Several centres have been opened in order to facilitate farmers, but to no avail, as the farmers find it difficult to make several trips to these centres - first to demonstrate their samples, a second time to bargain a price, and a third time again to carry the entire produce to the centres for disposal. Plus, it is cumbersome for poor and uninformed farmers to negotiate disposals.

Instead, the millers go to the farmers' door and strike a 'deal'. Not content with this, millers make a killing exporting rice, which results in hike, said a retailer.

The same is the case with other products, as pulses, gram, oil and the LPG cylinder (which costs over Rs. 300 now) are likely to be dearer. Not to speak of a further hike in petroleum products, which is the root cause of rises in prices of essential commodities.

And meanwhile, prices of vegetables, the onion being the foremost, have soared beyond the reach of housewives. India ranks as the second largest exporter of onions, but sells at around Rs. 80 a kg back home. It has become a luxury, say hoteliers, with many of them having cut down its usage.

Courtesy: INN