Open House: Should there be a cap on prices of items of daily use?

Basic necessities out of reach

People are facing many problems, as rising retail inflation is exerting an unprecedented financial stress on households. The living expenses have risen to the point where even basic necessities have gone out of reach for an average person. People are left with little choice, but to reduce their everyday expenses in order to survive in such dire circumstances. The government must recognise that unless growing inflation is brought under control by the implementation of effective measures, the current situation may deteriorate to unrecoverable levels.

Novin Christopher

Open depots to sell goods on subsidy

There must be a cap on the price of essential commodities such as vegetable, oil pulses, petrol and diesel. The government must take stock of the situation as it has become difficult to make both ends meet during ever increasing prices of goods and services. The government must open a depot in each ward to sell essential goods at subsidised rate to the common man. The government may provide vouchers to the needy and the poor people to buy essential commodities at a reasonable price. Also, there must be a check on hoarding of essential commodities.

Mohd Saleem Farooqui

No hike in salaries of service class

It is common to hear that the prices of goods, more specifically essential, are rising day by day. Now, many essential commodities are out of the reach of a common man. Salaries and wages are not increasing at that rate. The government must put a curb on the prices of petrol, diesel, LPG, vegetables and other daily use goods. The government may give some cash subsidy to consumers or making arrangements to sell essential commodities at fair price. The government must release a rate list of essential goods for sellers. Those traders, who charge more than the released rates, must be punished.

Farzana Khan

Covid Pandemic has triggered price hike

It is bitter truth that the soaring prices of essential commodities have affected the poor, the lower middle class as well as the middle class alike. For sure, there must be a cap on the prices of items of daily use. Prices of some of essential items have doubled as compared to pre-Covid time. The Covid pandemic has triggered a sharp rise in prices of essential commodities. The corrupt middlemen as well businessmen have taken the undue advantage of the situation. It is high time that the government must act tough for controlling the prices of all daily use items. There should also be a check on black marketers and hoarders as they are the ones, who are directly responsible for the price rise. Only timely action by the authorities concerned can save people from inflation.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Fuel price hike has worsened situation

The prices of essential commodities have gone through the roof. Only the common man bearing the brunt. Analysts suggest price hike pressure is still building up. Consumer goods companies may continue to pass on hiked input costs to consumers. A sharp increase in fuel prices after the state elections has worsened the situation. In the Indian economy, prices are ostensibly decided by demand and supply, but certain laws empower the Centre to intervene in the market to protect consumer interests. The ECA (Essential Commodities Act) 1955 is one such key law, which empowers the Central Government to put a cap on the prices of commodities, which are declared essential in order to make these available to consumers at fair prices and protect the public interest. It’s appropriate time for the government to intervene and protect the consumer. The government may fix the minimum support price (MSP) of any packaged essential commodity.

RS Sembhi

Check on business malpractices

Rising prices of essential commodities is most unfortunate. The phenomenal rise in prices after the Covid pandemic is condemnable. It speaks of the selfish nature of the human mind .There is no sector where price rise has not affected. The prices of daily indispensable eatables such as fresh vegetables, pulses and milk have shown an upward trend. These essentials are beyond the reach of common man. The price of essential commodities have a direct link with the hike of petroleum and diesel cost. In such circumstances, the responsibility of the present government is to stop selfish traders from indulging in business malpractices.

JBS Nanda

Price rise is global phenomenon

The price rise of all consumables, as at present, is a common phenomenon all over the world and our country is no exception. The effect of Covid pandemic over the past over two years on prices of essential commodities is equally evident. The earnings of a common men have drastically gone down, which is partially due to lay offs. Money in circulation is low. People have far less hard cash to buy essential goods and services. In many situations, price rise is also due to shortage of essential goods in the market. The government must ensure enough supply of all day to day use commodities to curb shortage in the market. The countrymen must not blame the government for everything that they have to face. In the case of petrol and diesel, the government is dependent on the price being charged by fuel suppliers, which effects the final cost passed on to consumers in the country. However, the country must work to become self-reliant for the supply of essential things.

Gautam Dev

Plight of common man miserable

During the last two years the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc with the financial status of most of us. And this year, prices of essential commodities have sky rocketed. The plight of the common man has become miserable as every other day there is a rise in the price of LPG, petrol and groceries. Recently, the prices of milk and diary products also increased. As the inflation is at its zenith now so, the rise in prices of all items of the daily need should be curbed immediately. The uncontrolled price rise leads to reduction in the consumption of goods and services.

Dr Sunil Chopra

Make country self-reliant

There should be a cap on prices for items of daily uses. The Russia-Ukraine War has led to hike in fuel cost, which has had a cascading effect on the prices of daily use commodities. There should be prohibition on hoarding of essential commodities. The government should control the inflation by making our country ‘Atam Nirbhar Bharat’. To fulfil this objective, the government should install solar plants and encourage farmers to grow more fruits and vegetables. The use of battery-operated vehicles must be promoted by giving subsidy on their selling price.

Adish Sood Amloh

Govt cannot run away from its duty

Definitely the price rise is a raging problem. As per recently published report inflation is highest since the past 17 months. Three per cent inflation is comfortable for the economic development. More inflation rate is dangerous for the people and socio-economic growth. It is not possible for the government to fix prices for all essential goods. Prices are governed by the demand and supply of goods. However, the government cannot run away from its duty to stabilise prices of essential goods and services. The government should make enough arrangements to store perishable and non-perishable essential goods so that these can be sold when there is steep hike in prices. Stern action must be taken against people hoardings essential goods.

Sukhdev Sharma, Machhiwara

States must reduce taxes on petrol, diesel

It is often remarked that the increase in petrol, diesel and gas prices have added to the agony of the common man. This increase is due to the fuel price hike in the international market. In India prices of fuel are vary in each state. For example in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula fuel prices are different. The states must reduce taxes on fuel to make it affordable, which in turn will decrease price inflation of essential commodities.

Balwin Kaur Uppal

QUESTION

Underage driving and speeding remain major causes of accidents in the city. Several teenaged students had a miraculous escape after two SUVs they were speeding collided with each other and one of them even turned turtle in the city the other day. Are underage drivers, especially students, solely responsible or their parents are equally partners in the crime by allowing them to drive before attaining the legal age?

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