GREENS TRIGGER KITCHEN SPATS!

“NO DARLING! No more fruits. We have to save money for vegetables,” says a desperate father to his daughter. “But, why?” asks she and her father says, “the government doesn’t want us to eat, it seems.”

This reflects sheer desperation that the galloping prices of essential commodities have forced parents into. The price hike has not only upset the middle-class kitchen but also the mood, triggering daily spats at the dining table.

Millions of middle class people are groaning with pain as brokers make the most of it with vegetables outsizing consumer’s pocket and forcing them to look for help from the government. But, the latter’s silence is only leaving them more desperate, miserable and hapless than the price hike.

From Alambagh to Gomti Nagar, from Indira Nagar to  Chowk, many voices have been raised against the price rise, with the common man wondering as to when the things would return to normal.

Tomatoes are selling at Rs.35-50 a kg, potato Rs 12 per kg,  parval Rs 20 kg, apple Rs 60-120 kg, pineapple Rs 30 per kg and garlic’s  at Rs.110 a kg. Wheat flour Rs 15 – 20 kg, rice Rs 14 –20 a kg, dal moong is at Rs 54-66 a kg playing havoc with household budgets and forcing people to drastically cut down on commodities. All these commodities have observed the increase of 20 per cent or above during the last three to four weeks.

But, even more than wheat, sugar and pulses, it is the rising prices of vegetables that have hit the common man the hardest. Among pulses, moong dal is selling at Rs. 54-66 in the markets of Gomti Nagar and Indira Nagar , an increase Rs.3-13 against a week ago.

“For the past two weeks, the prices of vegetables are affecting our budget. Looking at the high tomato price, we have curbed its use,” said housewife Manjit Walia of Gomti Nagar.

“Earlier we used to consume over 3 kgs of tomatoes every week, but for the last two weeks we are managing with just half a kg,” she adds.

Traders say that while un-seasonal rain and a severe heatwave had affected production, the hike in fuel prices and Internet betting are also responsible for the rise in prices.

“Low production coupled with high transportation costs due to the fuel price hike is the main reason for soaring prices,” says trader leader Sandeep Bansal .
Tomato prices have touched a new high of Rs. 50 a kg in Gomti Nagar, Indira Nagar and Aliganj, while they are selling between Rs 35 and Rs 45 per kg in Alambagh, Charbagh and Narhi.

“The government has failed to check the price hike . After the fuel prices were raised, we now have to face the burden of increased prices of all commodities. Is the government sleeping?” complains housewife Anjali Taneja .

Raghav Puri, an executive in a private firm, had a novel way out. “If the government cannot control the price hike , let it bring a law that binds all employers — whether government or private sector — to increase salaries by a corresponding percentage so that people do not suffer,” he maintains.

Even the retailers have begun to feel the pinch.

”I have observed over the last few days that most customers have been cutting down on purchases. They are not even buying bread and milk as regularly as before,” says a grocery shop owner in Aminabad.

“Papa has stopped bringing fruits because they are too costly,” complained school-going Anchal  Srivastava.