SHILLONG: Chokpot MLA Lazarus Sangma has voiced concern over alleged unchecked exploitations of the poor in terms of overpricing of essential commodities and the vulnerability in Garo Hills due to absence of testing centres for COVID-19 in the region, a report said.
“There is an ongoing unchecked sale of essential commodities at overrated prices, which is ensuring that the poor and destitute will withdraw their cooperation from a lockdown,” the MLA said.
Complementing Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s for warning traders against selling commodities at high rates, Lazarus said that the shop in smaller localities or rural areas will turn a blind eye as well as a deaf ear to the government’s warning.
Expressing concern about those without ration cards, the MLA said such individuals or families should also be provided food and relief.
He also stressed on subsidising the price of commodities.
“In these times, the government should put a radar with checks and balances on all the people who are involved in rampant activities of earning huge profits by victimising the poor,” the MLA said, adding that daily wage labourers have been jobless for almost a month and “they are the ones suffering a lot”.
