Kerala - Kollam   

No scope even for revised family budget

KOLLAM: The rise in prices of essential commodities has put Kollam consumers in a situation wherein they could not even plan a revised budget. And the trend which began last October has not shown signs of stabilising.

If price rise in the past had hit only one or two commodities at a time, this time round almost all commodities essential to a family have been hit. Consumers feel that the rise in prices of essential commodities is unprecedented. The common man, all of a sudden, finds himself in a tight spot. Weaker sections, especially cashew and fish workers, have tightened their belt. Reopening of schools and colleges is sure to thrust its own additional burden on many families.

But things have not deteriorated as far the upper middle class is concerned. Supermarkets here report no serious fall in the sale of rice and groceries. This is also attributed to a general apprehension whether the price rice would lead to a scarcity. Though it did not lead to panic buying, there was fear that rice would go out of stock.

The consumers are not satisfied with the official measures to control the price rise. They allege that outlets of the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (CSC) have failed to meet the situation. They have not bothered to stock the grade and brand of items the people here prefer.

“We are not prepared to purchase anything and everything Supplyco offers in the name of controlling prices... that may work in a famine situation but not in the present situation,” said a pensioner who makes purchases from a department store.

The staple diet rice has been the first casualty. From below Rs.15 a kg in November the price of rice crossed the Rs.20 mark by February to touch Rs.25 in April. The price of pulses has gone up steeply. Milma has hiked the price of milk by Rs.3 a litre. Except for sugar the price of all other groceries has gone up sharply since November.

Middle class families that spent around Rs.2,500 for their monthly requirements of groceries, toiletries and detergents last year are now spending over Rs.3,500. They make adjustments by cutting down on certain requirements, like eating out and postponing purchase of non-essential commodities.

Department store people think that there are factors which could make the price of rice fall sooner or later, though not beyond Rs.19 or Rs.20. But a fall in the price of other groceries seems to be a difficult proposition. They say that the permit given to retail majors to procure pulses is the main reason for the price rise of such items. Pulses now have to pass through the hands of an additional seller before reaching the retail market. The bulk of pulses in Kollam markets comes from Indore. The purchase system there earlier was farmer-to-wholesale dealer-to-Kollam retailer. Now it is farmer-to-retail major-to-wholesale dealer-to-Kollam retailer.

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