The cause and effect of
the price rise of the essential commodities is barely discussed formally and
intellectually in public functions, seminars and media apart from gossips
around the town in a personal level. People seem to be immuned to the price
rise although they are aware of it. In fact, people are starting to consider
this increased price as ‘normal’. Recently, the price of the fruits has been
particularly increased tremendously, as much as double the price two years
back. It’s probably as much the same case with other commodities too. Comparing
with other states, its sky high. For instance, a kilo of grapes cost only Rs.
30 in Hyderabad while in our state, it goes as high as Rs. 240 per kilo.
Imagine the difference! Most of the things, once it gets in Imphal, have a
totally different price level. As long as they have not crossed the highways,
the normal price remains somehow.
There are two reasons which
affect the price the most. Somewhat, it seems like these two are the only
reasons. One of the two obvious reasons for the rise in price is apparently
because of the illegal taxes forcefully made to pay to the traders on the highways
while the goods are being transported from other states as we all know. Another
is, ironically enough, created by the traders, by our own people, by ourselves.
In the pretext of paying the taxes, without even giving a second thought , the
owners of the goods which are being brought to the state increase the price to
as much a level where they can safely lie to the customers. At a time when the
price is already too high for the common people, it is indeed a sad story to
tell that we continue to cheat each other every second when we get every sick
opportunity.
Rather than solving the
current problem of paying the taxes on the highways together, some people are
trying to make use of the problem assuming themselves very intelligent to make
use of the problem when, in reality, we are practically jumping into a bigger
mess in the process. It is high time that the concerned Authority looks into
this open secret seriously and takes some effective actions.
Having said this, I don’t
really want to divert the processing mind from the core issue concerning the
problem, illegal taxes. The so-called patriotic warriors, separatist and a few
others who I have no clue what to call, are executing all sorts of illegal,
undemocratic, criminal activities on the highways with zeal to its zenith. Worse,
the government is turning a blind eye. Both the Central and the State Government
who are responsible for the maintenance of the condition of the highways are
competing each other in being silent as much possibly as they can about this
unfortunate discourse. In fact, it looks like they all have some secret agenda
where they are working together towards building a “better” nation. In the
meantime, the common people, bereft of this knowledge, are innocently running
along to the trend without diverting the course of the flow. If this really is
the case, we can hardly see the bright future we so long to have. Isn’t it late
enough for us to realize what should be done to change for better? Finding out
the best of the solutions, the implications of this discourse, the impotency of
making this happen, all must be given serious thought.
