Of late, the ghost of price rise has been haunting the common Indian and playing it's devilish pranks. From the Recession of 2008, saving rates have receded and investment rates soared higher. Returns on investments have come down drastically, but the cost of investments has been shooting up. We have lot been discussing about the rapid increase in the cost of living. If living has become expensive, how about resorting to death? But, not just living, even death has become costly now. The after-life story has also been haunted with price rise. I recently happened to be at a funeral when I realized this bitter, yet strange truth. The cost of all the rituals to be done after the death of a person was estimated at a damning 20,000 INR. And Pity me! It could come no less than 18,000 after bargain. :( Where are we going with this? Are we to live or to die? If living has become costly, death has become costlier. And do our elected representatives realize what situations they have led this country into? In spite of their 300% pay hike, our selfish politicians at the helm are not yet contented. They want more, and this more has no end to itself. At least now, they have got to realize the situation and spend time and their intellectual capital to check the situation and help the cattle class - not just to lead a standard life, but also within their budget. I do not know the significance of the bull at the sensex, but the common man has not been able to make this giant leap in spending as the barrier of daily needs is rising beyond his reach.
the hike has just been given, so give our politicians some time to digest that extra money, and hopefully this time they are satiated ;) (not probable though :D)
ReplyDeleteసంతోష్ నీ ఆర్టికల్ బాగుంది కాక పోతె నేను ఇంగ్లీషు లొ రాయలేను ఈ తెలుగు టైపింగు వచ్చాక ఇంగ్లీషు స్పెల్లిం గులు మర్చి పోతున్నాను .ఉద్యోగం వచ్చిందన్నావు కద ! బిజీ అనుకుంటాను రాజకీయాల మీద మన జీవన విధానం గురించి చక్కగా రాసావు నాది ఒక బ్లాగు ఉంది చూసావా ? అదే " సాహిత్య దీపిక " కొన్ని సరదాగా ఉంచాను .అన్ని ఫొటో లు చూసి మళ్ళి మైల్ ఇస్తాను సరేనా ? దీవించి పెద్దమ్మ
ReplyDeleteWow... Nice blog yaar... And yes these so called Indian Leaders are leading the country to no good. I'm afraid how the situations might turn in future, like in the time of our kids' generation. God should help us.. No one else... GOD, plz change the mind set of the Indian Politicians.
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ReplyDeleteWell written thoughts..I liked the subject you chose to compare the price hikes! But just to add a few more, I dont think the politicians are to be blamed completely. This is a very obvious situation in a country whose economy is booming which puts a lot of wealth in people's hands. Another culprit I would say is the failed monsoon last year - the worst season since 1972 -which added to the food inflation!
ReplyDeleteWe've already seen that the Central Bank has increased the interest rates and is also trying other measures to curb inflation. The only thing our politicians can do now is help improve the Indian transport infrastructure (without gulping down all the money!!) and allow for better movement of goods/services, which can definitely increase supply and thus finally control inflation.
It's not about both of us arguing on this as you also have a valid point, but here are some clarifications. Problems like late monsoons, droughts or floods are well beyond human capacity and nothing much can be done by us except planting trees and reducing deforestation :P which is now just a proud annual event(World Environment Day). The cost of living will increase as years go by, but the Aam aadmi cannot digest an inflation at this rate(double digit).
ReplyDeleteThe Reserve Bank of India might be taking steps to curb inflation, but a greater responsibility vests on our elected representatives. The RBI should be answerable to them and they to us. Transport is a major issue in cities and only in totally isolated villages, but a host of greater concerns like lack of irrigation for agriculture, supply of power and fertilizers for farming, lack of proper returns for the farmer(FYI: a farmer sells dal at Rs 30/kg while we buy at Rs 100/kg - what a difference? - He's also got to buy other household commodities at high rates which he cannot afford) and above all, the uncontrolled hoarding of farm produce between farmers and mainstream market. Is not the Ministry of Food and Agriculture at fault for the thousands of tonnes of rotting food grains lying in open godowns while the PDS ration shops have no stock to be distributed at subsidized rates? If only Mr. Sharad Pawar had put in half his commitment to that of BCCI and ICC to this portfolio, I guess things would have been a lot better. This itself justifies our politicians' uncontrolled obsession for money in spite of their 300% pay hike that the situation is going beyond repair.
Some interesting thoughts there...Yes, u have a valid point too! And I understand that climate changes aren’t in our hands.. But just wanted to point out one of the reasons for food inflation in India. And also, I never denied the fact that we house corrupt politicians. I agree with your Ministry of Food & Agri point as well.. I picked up transportation logistics, just as an example. For a matter of fact, Infrastructure spending accounts for only 4% of India’s output compared with 9% in China. Another example, India’s finance ministry recently estimated the average turnaround time for ships at India’s major ports to be almost four days compared to 10 hours in Hong Kong. Why are we lagging behind?
ReplyDeleteAll these facts finally boil down to what you've already said - corrupt politicians!