THE MIDDLE class and weaker section of the society are suffering most due to steep hike in prices of essential commodities including milk, dal, rice, potato, etc.
Experts are surprised at the hike in prices of essential commodities at that time of the year when they are supposed to come down.
A trader of Pandey Ganj Galla Mandi blamed it on Internet betting and to the nexus between government officials and hoarders, along with poor monitoring by the price monitoring cell (PMC) of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The department previously used to monitor prices of 12 items like rice, wheat, aata, gram, arhar, tea, milk, sugar, vanaspati, mustard oil, groundnut oil, potato, onion and salt and other related commodities but in the recent months, the cell has provided nothing but lip-service. It seems the committee has not been reporting the correct price hike to the government and has been working in the interest of hoarders and the betting mafia.
Parag Dairy has increased rates of milk by 50 paise per kg, butter has recorded hike from Rs 5 to 10 per kg. Desi ghee has become dearer by Rs 20 per kg in the open market.
Aata is selling at Rs 13 to 18 per kg, while the rate of dhuli moong dal has shot up to Rs 50 per kg, moong chhilka costs Rs 45 per kg, urad green Rs 45 per kg, urad black Rs 55 per kg, chhola is selling at Rs 50 to 60 per kg, while urad dhuli is selling at Rs 60 per kg. Tea is between Rs 140 to 1,800 per kg, rava at Rs 16 kg, besan Rs 48 kg, makhana Rs 150 kg, groundnut Rs 40 kg and vanaspati Rs 52 kg. All the items have recorded a hike of Rs 2 to 5 per kg in the last 15 days.
{{/usCountry}}Aata is selling at Rs 13 to 18 per kg, while the rate of dhuli moong dal has shot up to Rs 50 per kg, moong chhilka costs Rs 45 per kg, urad green Rs 45 per kg, urad black Rs 55 per kg, chhola is selling at Rs 50 to 60 per kg, while urad dhuli is selling at Rs 60 per kg. Tea is between Rs 140 to 1,800 per kg, rava at Rs 16 kg, besan Rs 48 kg, makhana Rs 150 kg, groundnut Rs 40 kg and vanaspati Rs 52 kg. All the items have recorded a hike of Rs 2 to 5 per kg in the last 15 days.
{{/usCountry}}The middle class has been hit again below the belt since October 23, since the price of potato shot up considerably to Rs 18 to 20 per kg. Brinjal is selling from Rs 16 to 20 per kg, gourd at Rs 7 to 11 per kg, tomatoes at Rs 16 to 20 per kg, lady’s finger at Rs 16 to 24 per kg, onion at Rs 8 to 10 per kg and ginger at Rs 40 to 50 per kg. Hara dhania (coriander ) has become so costly that people have stopped adding it to dishes. There has been a hike of about 20 per cent in the prices of all vegetables in the last 15 days.