Price rise

The unprecedented rise in prices of diesel, petrol and essential commodities since lockdown 1.0 (March 24) has affected middle class people as well as daily-wage earners. Due to the lockdown, many people have not able to make their both ends meet, let alone medicines. A section of people are in double trouble – acute cash crunch due to loss of jobs and skyrocketed prices of all essential commodities.

The announcement of 14-day lockdown in Guwahati by the Health Minister to break the COVID-19 chain has created panic amongst the citizens in the metropolitan city. The immediate effect of the Iockdown was rise in prices of vegetables. The price of potato rose to Rs 50 per kg from Rs 25 per kg and that of onion to Rs 60 per kg from Rs 30 per kg overnight. The unvarnished truth is that all are not wealthy enough to procure essential goods at such prices with their meagre or no income during the pandemic for 14 days in just two days. It is also not possible to keep perishable vegetables for such a long period. The recent vegetable prices and the hike in prices of diesel (Rs 18 per litre) and petrol (Rs 20 per litre) are really unfortunate. As and when oil prices are hiked, the added transportation cost adds to the prices of all other commodities. It seems that the government is not at all worried over the situation. The BJP-led government in the State has not been able to check the rise in prices, nor has it been able to run the PDS (Public Distribution System) smoothly. The government, it seems, is paying least attention to the misery of the people.

On behalf of the general public, and most importantly the daily-wage earners, I request the Central and the State governments to check the prices of the essential commodities, mainly diesel and petrol. Some of the wholesalers and retailers are charging exorbitant prices from the customers taking advantage of the lockdown.

Paban Ali Saikia,

Guwahati