Galloping vegetable prices In one week time, the prices have jumped 4 times .Is there is some connivance of manipulating the prices and indirectly benefiting thereby? The blame on demand due to short supply, unseasonable rains, increase in diesel and petrol prices, transport costs, have some effects. Why does the Govt,not control the prices by checking hoarding, profiteering of essential commodities? The steep rise in Vegetables, milk, gas has crippling effect on the budget of aam admi .The vegetables are costing a bomb. A reader responded to me by stating that vegetables are much cheaper in Oslo Norway and per capital income of Indians is no where comparable. The only thing consumer can do is offer resistance by curtailing needs at the cost of nutrition. The middle class is squeezed and are reeling under price burden. The pains of the this class is immaterial when it comes to pleasing the below poverty population, who are the vote banks Who will pay for all illegal tapping of electricity, water, which are in fact footed by the middle class by way inflated bills. The rich do not mind the small difference in their bills .The gas increase will have its cascading effect on fertilizers, production of electricity, factory products and transport The food bill is aggressively promoted as the game changer. Where the finance for the massive bill will come from, What about the food production, distribution, storage and whether administration is ready to meet the challenge? The subsidies on gas, fertilizers are being withdrawn in a phased manner as unproductive and un economical? This huge subsidy on food, close to elections The food bill is likely to further put strains on the availability and costs of essential commodities. The labour fees have been raised and provided cheap grains to 67% of targeted population. It does not matter that the rest of the population are out of reach of essential commodities and their concerns do not make electoral sense or their grievances a priority
Nelson Lopes Chinchinim