Cooking gas is a major commodity needed for housewives and as a family of six members we feel that the subsidy did help to compensate the cost of certain essential commodities. In its first decisive move towards curbing the supply of subsidised cooking gas, the NDA government announced that taxpayers with an annual income of more than Rs 10 lakh will be denied subsidised LPG cylinders from the New Year. At present, all households are entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rate of Rs 419.26, while the market price of each cylinder is Rs 608. It is a step in the right direction not to extend the subsidy to middle class and upper middle class in the society. While many consumers have given up subsidy voluntarily, it is felt that consumers in the higher income bracket should get LPG cylinders at the market price. Central Government is slowly and steadily waking up to stop unnecessary expenses and stabilise our economy. But it is time to monitor the cost of essential commodities as well to check inflation. Pulses and vegetables prices are skyrocketing and causing ripples in the minds of housewives and they feel the pinch. As a common man would like to save something for the rainy day, it is the responsibility of the government to stabilise the prices and the commodities reach the people without restriction. In the past, we experienced sudden shortfall of onion, potato and tomato causing the prices reach a new high. The escalating cost of Tur dal and other commodities add to the burden of the housewives.
C.K. Subramaniam
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
