SHILLONG:
Congress MLA Saleng Sangma, on June 27, expressed concern over the state’s rising commodity costs and suggested that the government should intervene in the matter.
According to Sangma, “Not only the poor people are complaining about the price rise these days; even the rich are complaining. A packet of rice used to cost Rs 1,500, but now it costs somewhere between Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,000.”
He also raised questions whether people from the poorer sections of society would have the means to purchase groceries for their residences. Will they purchase groceries for their kids, pay the rent, or pay the school admission fees? the people are in a “dilemma,’ he added.
He continued that the traders change the prices according to their whims and fancies, and added, “Just take beef for example, the price was Rs 400 before, and yesterday the price went up to Rs 800. Not only the meat items, even the vegetables also, but the salaries of all the people are same. It’s not increasing, but look at the rates of all the products that is going up.”
He observed that while the residents of rural areas may make do with their own homegrown food, it is more challenging for those living in urban areas because of additional costs like light bills, house rent, and groceries.
Additionally, he requested the government to step in and make sure that the rates are determined and that everyone is kept in the loop, in order to prevent anyone from taking matters into their own hands and taking advantage of the situation.