Yesterday, I realized that media has really become fourth pillar of Indian democracy. My resignation was just a simple out come of my health constraints but media blew it out of proportion and made it national news. I hope that now dust has settled down and we can get back to our agenda of discussing serious issues concerning all of us.

Life for the aam aadmi is becoming increasingly difficult because of all-round price rise across the country, biting into the real incomes of the people. Furthermore, the situation has worsened by rounds of price hikes of petroleum products, which has had an alarming impact on the prices of several other commodities.

Our country has witnessed inflation even prior to this but since two years there is no end to this trend and the situation is moving from bad to worse. And our government is a mute spectator to this flame. On 28th November 2009, as per the Commerce Ministry the food price index has risen at the rate of 19.05%, which is maximum in the last 11 years. Prices of essential commodities like pulses, rice, sugar and vegetables are going up continually. If the state of inflation prolongs extensively then food riots in India cannot be ignored.

Over the period, the government is giving various kinds of excuses to this menace. I still remembered that in 2007 when the inflation intensified it was said to be seasonal and could be over within few days. After some time the then finance minister said that inflation is an outcome of economic growth. Subsequently when the country witnessed drought then it was said that because of low production the supply side is not meted out.

Recently some people from the government said that because of price rise our farmers will get more cost to their products which will benefit 75 % farmers and for that 25% people have to manage accordingly. Government procurement rate of pulses were raised to 3000 rupees per quintal (Rs.30/Kg) while one kg of dal in open markets costs 90 to 100 rupees. I want to ask this government to come out from the ivory tower and examine the real statistics. Please don’t befool the citizens. Farmer is getting less than 30 rupees per kilo of arhar daal while the market rate of is 100 rupees. The pertinent question is who hugs the hub profits of 60 to 70 rupees.

Now the Congress is also getting skeptical on this issue as it is trying to put entire blame on Shri Sharad Pawar. We all know that the entire government has to take joint responsibility of good as well as bad works. The responsibility of the price rise goes to the cabinet along with the Prime Minister.

This year we would be importing a large quantity of rice. I have completely failed to understand the export and import policies of the government. Since years we have good monsoon and our farmers have produced enough to meet the needs of the country. The question is where is the reserve stock? Our government should not blame entirely the monsoon; instead it is its mismanagement. Last year when the price of sugar was low in international market, it was on high in India and even we had to import also. Last year the government made the policy in such a way that the sugar cane farmers this year cultivated less which ultimately resulted in the manifold rise of sugar rate. Last year the government had imported wheat in a high rate because it failed to procure properly from the farmers. Reason, the middlemen hoarders bought wheat in a less price from the farmers and manipulated the market.

I do not understand complex jargons of economists, but one thing that I know, increase in food subsidy and effective public distribution system ensures low price to common man. The government has completely failed on these both accounts. It is quite well understood we can not meet appetite of people by importing food grains, we have to produce more and disband and confiscate the hoarders. In India the production capacity per hectare is less than that of China, Bangladesh and Indonesia. This means after green revolution we have completely ignored the agriculture sector.  Our farmer is suffering from lack of good credit facility, poor procurement mechanism, expensive farm inputs such as seed, fertilizer and diesel. Today situation of agrarian India is so pathetic that more than 80 % farmers desire to leave farming.

I believe that the government’s policies are horribly going wrong and are totally anti-farmers.  Without thinking about the plight of farmers, now the government has allowed the multinationals to do business in the retail sectors. It did a free trade agreement with ASEAN countries without thinking about its repercussions.

In the cabinet sub-committee meeting held in 21st October 2009, the Commerce Minister said that government would provide enough food product to the people in appropriate prices. We understand that everything is available in the market but 2-3 times more expensive that the usual rates, which is beyond the reach of commoners. Let us see when this dragon of price rise will stop blowing fire…

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