WE THE PEOPLE
Even with all time downward inflationary trends, Kashmir dealers seem unmoved, fleece shoppers with impunity
Hence people seek Div Com’s intervention, demand streamlining prices to end their fleecing
By: M. Shirjeel
SRINAGAR: Large proportions of India’s population in general and Kashmir segments in particular continue to remain victims of malnutrition and ill health. For this group, the Government was committed to minimize their share of the burden of adjustment. The Government should, therefore, provide higher outlays on elementary education, rural drinking water supply, assistance to small and marginal farmers, programmes for women and children, programes for welfare of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and the weaker sections of the society, and increased expenditure on infrastructure and employment generation projects in rural areas. Further steps have to be taken to re-allocate social expenditure, particularly in health and education for the poor. Additional cost-effective compensatory programme particularly in the areas of nutrition and employment should be strengthened and broadened. But the forward movement in these areas has been quite tardy and common people continue to suffer on economic front beyond description.
No doubt, increasing prices of essential commodities has become a world phenomenon and has caught headlines of newspapers. Its intensity was witnessed in Parliament when the opposition parties and the Left allies lashed out at the Government for its failure to control prices and tame inflation. Realizing gravity of the situation, the Government decided to import one million tones of edible oil and 15 lakh tones of pulses besides mulling a ban on future trading in essential commodities. All Public Sector Companies were directed to import edible oils. The oil was proposed to be subsidized at the rate of Rs.15/- per litre and would be made available all over the country, especially for Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antodaya families. It is a fact that there is shortage of these edibles and as such the Government is left with no option, but to import them. The Government has already abolished import duty on edible oils and pulses. Although it is a belated move, yet can be described a positive movement in the right direction.
The State Governments were asked to join hands with the Centre in the battle against inflation. Now inflation rate has gone down from 2.43 to 0.44 which is a healthy sign and prices of edibles have already sliding down in most of the Indian states, but not in Kashmir valley where prices continue to soar high and high with no one to cry a halt. As a matter of fact there is no bar for the State Governments to raid, prosecute and convict the hoarders and the profiteers. The Essential Commodities Act is very clear about dealing with such persons who indulge in black-marketing, profiteering and hoarding.
Pertinent to mention that the CAPDD was created to maintain price-line of essential commodities and ensures uninterrupted supply of edibles to the people of the State. The officials of the Department used to hold meetings with Kothedars/Poultry dealers every month and involve law-enforcing agencies to ensure operation of rates arrived and fixed in such meetings. The rate-lists used to be prepared and issued in consultation with all concerned and thus people would not face any difficulty in purchasing essentials. But with the passage of time, such exercises are seldom undertaken, which has encouraged black-marketing, profiteering and hoarding in Kashmir Valley. Although the shopkeepers’ display rate-lists at conspicuous places, yet there is no adherence to such lists and customers are fleeced with impunity.
Hence people seek Div Com’s intervention, demand streamlining prices to end their fleecing. It becomes, therefore, obligatory on the part of the concerned State functionaries to rise to the occasion and take all necessary steps to curb black-marketing, profiteering and hoarding. The Government is already empowered under Essential Commodities Act, which needs to be invoked to rein prices. It is to be kept in mind that the common man has limited resources and can ill-afford to meet the demands of the sharks of our society. The earlier such elements are curbed the better!
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