Residents feel the heat as cooking gas gets costlier

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 16

The hike of Rs 50 per LPG cylinder has come as another shocker for the people, who were already battling with Covid-19 induced economic distress. A negligible subsidy amount being transferred to consumers also failed to provide them any respite.

The ongoing economic recession caused by Covid-19 has already reduced wages, sales on non-essential commodities, besides changing lifestyles of different sections of the society. The families, especially, middle and low income groups, are finding it tough to manage spiraling inflation on essential items such as cereals, pulses, cooking oil and even fuel cost in their dwindling income.

Manvi Mehta, a housewife, said there has been at least a 40 percent hike in the kitchen budget, following the unlocking of the lockdown. “Before lockdown, I used to manage the kitchen with a budget of Rs 6,000 for a month. Now, the same has been increased to Rs 10,000.”

Karan Kumar, an employee at a shop, said the financial condition of those working at outlets has always remained critical. Inflation on essential items have turned their fiscal condition from bad to worse. “My family had to live on the paltry savings during the Covid-19 period. So this is another blow.” He added that the middle class never figures in the manifesto of political parties. Hence, they remain devoid of government devised policies.

Sudesh Kumar, a cosmetic trader, said, the sale of non-essential commodities such as cosmetics have fallen manifolds. He added that there has been a 20 to 30 percent hike in cooking oils such as mustard, soya, rice bran, palm, cotton seed, cereals and pulses.

He stated that a negligible subsidy amount was being transferred to banks these days which also does not offer any solace to them.