By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 29: VPP chief and Nongkrem MLA, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Thursday criticised the Meghalaya government over the rising prices of essential commodities in the state.
Addressing media persons after his walkout from the House, he underscored the urgent need for government intervention to curb the skyrocketing prices affecting almost every household.
“I was not allowed to raise this issue in the House, and the Zero Hour notice that I submitted was converted into a call attention motion, where the minister simply laid the reply on the table of the House,” he said.
Presenting a comparative analysis of the prices of essential commodities between Meghalaya and neighbouring states like Mizoram and Assam, Basaiawmoit pointed out the glaring disparities.
“The price of tomato in Mizoram is Rs 45 per kg, in Assam Rs 40 per kg, and in Meghalaya Rs 50 per kg. Green chilli is Rs 80 per kg in Mizoram and Assam, and Rs 110 per kg in Meghalaya,” he said, listing several other items with such discrepancies.
He highlighted the stark differences in the prices of other daily essentials such as mustard oil, chicken breast, pork, beef, potato, and onion, pointing out that Meghalaya consistently has higher rates compared to its neighbours.
“This is the rate which I collected on August 24. People are complaining because they do not have anything left for savings,” Basaiawmoit said.
Calling for immediate government action, he urged the Assembly to consider invoking the Essential Commodities Act to address the issue.
The VPP chief also expressed his disappointment over the government’s handling of his request for a short-duration discussion on the matter. “I feel this is very important. I should have been given a chance. If the Speaker can convert a Zero Hour notice into call attention, why cannot he instruct the chief minister or one of the deputy chief ministers to reply to my short-duration discussion?” he asked.
In his response, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Comingone Ymbon said the state government remains committed to protecting the interests of consumers by ensuring the availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices.
He expressed confidence that the measures undertaken – continuous monitoring, strict enforcement, and collaboration with both state and national agencies – would help mitigate the impact of price rises on the people of the state.
Ymbon, however, agreed that the rising cost of essential commodities such as food grains, pulses, and vegetables impacts the daily lives of the citizens, making it imperative for the government to take proactive measures.
Stating that many factors contribute to price rise, he said the fluctuation of prices, particularly in food grains, pulses, and vegetables, is driven by multiple factors. He said the irregular and late monsoon rains in parts of the country led to widespread droughts, especially affecting food grains and vegetable production.
He also said there are instances where heavy rainfall has resulted in floods, damaging most crops and leading to a significant reduction in supply.
“Additionally, the high cost of labour and transportation has contributed significantly to the rising prices. The transportation costs increase in the hilly terrain of Meghalaya, which are subsequently passed on to consumers. The state’s reliance on imports of certain commodities from outside has further aggravated the situation, as market fluctuations directly affect local prices,” he said.
Recognising the urgency of the situation, Ymbon said his department has undertaken several initiatives to stabilise prices and ensure the availability of essential commodities to all citizens.
“One significant step has been the price monitoring system. To improve the representativeness of daily price data, the Government of India increased the number of monitored commodities from 22 to 38, effective from August 1. This expansion includes 16 additional commodities, bringing the coverage closer to the commodities listed under the Consumer Food Price Index of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s Consumer Price Index,” he added.
He strengthened its monitoring mechanisms by establishing two levels of Price Monitoring Committees: the State Level Price Monitoring Committee and the District/Sub-Divisional Vigilance and Monitoring Committees.
“Another key intervention undertaken by the Department is the implementation of the Price Monitoring System (PMS). Under the PMS, the wholesale and retail prices of 38 essential commodities are collected and analysed daily, enabling the Department to take appropriate policy interventions to stabilise prices,” Ymbon said.
He said that the Department of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs has taken decisive action to prevent black marketing and overcharging.