THE present conditions of the
country may be characterized as ‘out of control’. This applies especially to
prices of commodities (necessities of daily life) and services (doctors’ fees,
charges of beauticians and building contractors).Prices have doubled and tripled
in some cases during the last four months (price spiral took place one month
before the election). What has happened during the last four months? Everybody
says that it is due to the rise in petroleum prices. But we are not paying
double or triple amount at the petrol pump. It is really an excuse that
everybody is using to make more profit from the uncontrolled situation in the
country. There is nobody to stop them.It seems as if a bunch of naïve is running
the government. None of them seem to have the experience or the knowledge of how
to control the market. They have left it to fate to let the market forces
(supply and demand) remain in imbalance, leaving it to some very corrupt people
involved in making money for themselves. They are creating artificial shortages
of most commodities and the government has not been able to pinpoint them. We
often read statements from various ministers that they will soon do something
but very little has been done.Market forces cannot be stable with such a corrupt
environment. As against the rise in prices in daily necessities, the salaries of
the common working people have increased nominally.The cold attitude of ‘doing
nothing’ cannot last longer. The government must take charge and control the
rising prices.
All commodity dealers and service providers should be asked to roll back the
increases in prices to what were four months ago. Trade in commodities may be
suspended for a while to control prices. The government has to be tough with
hoarders and profiteers now before it gets too late for the working men who are
being punished for no fault of theirs.