Price rise: Knee-jerk reactions won’t go far

The fortunes of Indian politicians and political parties, particularly those from the North, are intricately tied to the prices of the ubiquitous aloo-pyaaz (potatoes and onions) and there is hardly anyone whose heart would not jump if the prices of these essentials start rising uncontrollably.

Common folk would not forgive any government that cannot keep the prices of these commodities in particular under control and can be stinging in their opinions on those in power and more so when polls are approaching.

The nation is slowly recovering from a heavy ‘dose’ of price rise because of the dizzy heights to which tomato prices – another unavoidable vegetable on our platter – rose in recent months with the central government watching on helplessly.

It made people wonder if the government had any inkling about controlling prices when there are so many options available – imports, checking hoarders and also encouraging people to shift to tomato-based products.

Finally, the tomato prices are showing some semblance of normalcy but now comes the news that onion prices are all set to zoom.

This despite the fact that there is a 40 per cent customs duty on onion exports. The government has no doubt acted fast after onion prices rose 20 per cent in the JulyAugust period but are these knee-jerk reactions enough to keep a check on prices of this ingredient that goes into the making of most Indian dishes?

Amid this came the atrocious statement by a Maharashtra minister that nothing will happen if people do not eat onions for 2-4 months!

Tomatoes, onions, edible oils, rice wheat; you name it, the price of every product and produce, which we consider so essential, are going through the roof.

It could be because of the sudden and devastating rains and flooding in the north or the lack of rains in the south but people have been bearing it all in silence hoping that some day in the future will bring the good news that prices are back to normal.

On Tuesday, the opposition Congress party slammed the inflationary trends and the government’s inability to control prices even as Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde proposed that more warehousing facilities be set up to address the woes of onion farmers.

It’s still too early to predict if the government’s move to discourage onion exports and increase the buffer stock limit of the produce to 5 lakh tonnes, will help in keeping prices stable.

Another source of worry is the fact that onion production is slated to fall to 31.01 million tonnes from 31.69 million tonnes in the previous year.

Indian households consume a staggering 15 million tonnes of onions annually.

Though they are no match for potatoes, which is the most consumed produce in the country making up for 20 per cent of vegetable spend, onions can still make or break the fortunes of both the common man and political powers who seem to be only concerned about the number of billionaires the country has.

There are millions in the country who still eke out a pitiful existence at the subsistence level wondering where the next meal will come from.

Any price rise hits them the hardest – a reality lost on our current rulers who have showed not much of an inclination to check prices, if one were to go by the handling of the tomato crisis.

There are solutions of course to price rise – a massive increase in storage facilities, timely imports, quick action to make sure the supply-demand balance does not go awry and the offering of alternative products, which people are ready to explore.

All these need a farsighted vision and comprehensive planning keeping in mind the needs of the nation and the sentiments of the people but that has been miserably missing from the blueprints of the current dispensation so far.