By Omkar Dattatray

India has been facing the burning problem of inflation for the past few years and it has put us in a tough spot. Inflation is the economic phenomenon of a continuous, persistent and constant increase in the general level of prices. Inflation negatively affects people’s lives because consumers have to part with more hard-earned money to buy basic necessities. In fact, the purchasing power and purchasing capacity of consumers has declined and domestic needs-based purchasing has been strained.

The prices of almost all goods are continuously increasing and this has negatively affected the budgets of ordinary households and they want to escape from the situation. It has broken the backs of ordinary consumers and they are facing hardships for their livelihood. Ironically, inflation places a heavy burden on consumers’ pockets as the prices of flour, rice, pulses, spices, sugar, detergents and soaps, etc. continually increase.

Therefore, there is no choice but to buy the goods even at high prices. The prices of the patrol, diesel, cooking gas both domestic and commercial increase continuously and the weight of the price increase must be borne by consumers as this has a negative impact on the purchasing capacity of the population. It is common knowledge that the continued increase in the prices of fuels like diesel and gasoline leads to an increase in the prices of all goods and services, as transportation costs increase and this increases the prices of goods in the market. The prices of subsidized and unsubsidized cooking gas are constantly increasing and housewives are very concerned as they have to part with more money to buy cooking gas. The BJP-led NDA government removed the subsidy and the prices of the subsidized gas rose to around a thousand rupees and this is pinching consumers. Freebies and grants are not necessary but removing the grant in one go is also not advisable and feasible. The prices of different brands of edible oils are also steadily increasing and its prices have doubled and this has affected the pockets of consumers. The price of edible oils has reached eleven hundred rupees for five liters and it hurts ordinary consumers. Besides the prices of edible oils, the prices of perishable goods like vegetables, eggs, fruits, etc. continually increase and weigh on consumers. Since consumers cannot do without the use of vegetables, fruits and eggs, so there is no way for people to be deadlocked. The increase in the prices of vegetables, fruits, milk, curds, cheese affects all consumers as they did but to buy these products at any market price. During the reign of the UPA, the prices of goods in daily use were controlled by the rulers for the benefit of consumers. The government in place should exercise control over the rise in the prices of basic necessities and come to the aid of the population. But unfortunately, this does not happen and the opposition alleges that the BJP government is friendly with big corporations and as such does not control the rise in the prices of goods. Thus, the price increase does not seem to be the concern of the ruling party as it does not care about the price increase and its implications.

Everything in a democracy depends on and is influenced by the politics of the vote bank and therefore the rulers should, in order to gain votes, pay attention to the fight against rising prices so that there is a minimum of anti-titular. As state assembly elections in all five states approach in the first months of 2022, and the government should therefore step in and fight price hikes in the interests of consumers and in its own interests, otherwise the prospects of the parties in power will be affected. in the elections. Inflation is the hallmark of developing economies and therefore India is no exception to the rise in prices as there is a continuous rise in the prices of the goods that people need. People are facing the sad situation of rising prices and there is an urgent need for price control of goods and services. But the government of the day paid little attention to controlling the rise in prices and it would be at its peril as the dispensation from power would have to perform poorly in the elections for the State Assembly of the Five state assemblies. Therefore, the authorities should intervene and take all necessary measures to control the prices of products in common use for the relief of consumers. If the government is really interested in the well-being of the citizen, it must show its presence and take the necessary measures to control and combat the prices of goods and services and it must reflect on the ground. Rising prices is a burning issue facing Indian people as there seems to be free for all as black monopolists and traders engage in unfair trading practices to the detriment of the people. This black marketing and hoarding must be fought on a war footing so that they do not lead to the creation of an artificial scarcity of essential goods and services. The government should therefore resort to rationing essential goods for the benefit of consumers.

(The author is a retired education officer and columnist)

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