Price rise: Claims and Facts

In yet another instance of action against the norm violators in the markets, the Enforcement squad of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department has claimed to have fined 43 erring traders in District Srinagar Saturday with a sum of Rs 28900 for violating Essential Commodities Act, 1955. However, one fails to understand why there has been no let up in the price rise of essentials including the food stuff in the markets. As the government has claimed that they will ensure that the mutton is sold as per the fixed rates, but unfortunately the consumers continue to get the mutton at exorbitant rate, leaving the people to lurch at large. According to the government, the mutton rate is Rs 535, but the butchers are selling it at the rate of Rs 650-Rs 700, thereby the fixed rates are being thrown to the winds while there has been no stringent action so far against the mutton dealers in this regard, which is only adding to the miseries of the people. At a time when the people are going to celebrate Eid some days ago, there is a need to check the rates in the markets and ensure that a strict action is initiated in this regard so that the people on this Eid are not forced to pay extra amount. The market checking needs to be intensified on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr and all the mutton shops should be inspected so that a stern action is taken against them if found violating the government rates. Besides, there is a need to check the rates of the other essentials too in the markets ahead of Eid so that the consumers are not pushed to the wall.