Price hike on essential commodities affecting common men
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 12, 2014: The wholesale market in Marwari Dharmashala, Imphal is sure to make shoppers happy with different prices on offer to the retailers or sub-wholesalers.

However, the increasing prices on essential food items have come as a quick backlash to the economy of the state hitting the common people hard.

The price of Potato which is an essential food item in any household in Manipur has inflated to Rs 24 per kg in retail store.

Priced high beyond consumer's expectations and wants, the chicken is touching Rs 200-240 at retail rates putting a brake on the irresistible tandoori and other chicken-yummies.

Chicken price has come up from the original Rs 170-180 price two months back in the State.

While in the country, the boost in export activities of the Modi government at the Centre has left Maharashtra, the largest sugar producing State, without sufficient sugar in stock, sugar prices in Manipur have also gone up from Rs 40 to Rs 40-45 at retail rates.

The wholesaler shops around Marwari Dharmashala at the heart of Imphal city distribute Parmal rice, a superfine brand of rice, which is sold at Rs 31.6 per kg current as against Rs 35 two months back, makes a large difference to the wholesale.

The only staple food in Manipur, Rice is now available at Rs 35/- which is a leap from Rs 30/- two months back.

At retail market, onion comes in different varieties, with two varieties arriving from Moreh and others transported mostly from Bihar.

The price of Indian onion has gone up to Rs 45/- while those brought from Myanmar via Moreh to Rs 40/-as against the earlier price of merely Rs 30/ per kg.

Manipuris cannot live without the taste of ngari (fermented fishes) in their curries, but fishes for making ngari is being imported from other sides of India as there is short supply in the State.

The 'food essentials' of the people is also incomplete without two common fishes namely, 'Rohu' and 'Sareng', which are again imported from outside at a premium.

In a state like Manipur which depends on other states of India for all its requirements, the direct effect of increase in prices of essential food items has hit the common people hard.

Comment