AMSU demands price control body
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 22 2014: The All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has resolved to launch different modes of agitation against the State Government and trading community from June 26 in case the Government does not form and activate a price control body by June 25 .

With the Government sitting idle, it is the trading community which have been fixing or rather hiking prices of all essential commodities at their own sweet will.

The State Government's silence and inaction even as the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed has raised a serious question on whether the Government is in hand in gloves with the big business class, said AMSU secretary general Laishram Regan.

Speaking to media persons at their DM College campus office today, Regan said that the Government must set up a price control body in order to check unwarranted price hike.

The Government needs to formulate a price control policy.

However, there is neither any price fixation cell nor any price monitoring committee.

Such irresponsible attitude of the Government deserves outright denunciation, Regan said.

The Government and the relevant department should set up and activate a price control body by June 25 else different modes of agitation would be launched from the next day in order to ensure that all essential commodities are available at reasonable prices.

AMSU's HRD secretary Manjit noted that the State Government is incapable of taking up any action when traders/wholesale dealers hike prices of goods at their sweet will.

Earlier, there was a price fixation committee.

However, it died a silent death because the Government was not interested in its functions and activities.

Over the past many years, AMSU has been demanding re-activation of the defunct committee.

It is highly condemnable that the Government has no mechanism for controlling prices of goods sold in the markets.

It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that all essential commodities including rice and dals are available in hill areas of the State.

The State Government should ensure that all PDS items are available in the quantities and prices applicable to other States of India.

But the people of Manipur do not get the PDS items like rice, sugar, SK Oil etc in time and up to the specified quantities, Manjit decried.

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