Consumers continue to draw the short straw

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Fuel, LPG and now, milk. In pandemic times, is there anything left to add to the burden of the hapless citizen? Close on the heels of Amul hiking the retail price of milk, Mother Dairy and Gokul too have followed suit. Intermittence in fuel prices has been a major factor in the rise in MRP of many edible commodities. Unfortunately for consumers, the pain does not seem to be going away soon.

The companies have said they have been forced to bow down to inflationary trends on the overall input costs, which have increased multifold in the past one year, accompanied by the distress in milk production due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Household consumption continues to be a source of worry for the common man. Coupled with the rise in medical costs, this has come as a double whammy for citizens.

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in erosion of wealth and savings, thereby stunting the growth prospects of the vast majority.

With the third wave lurking and the second wave’s debilitating impact on the economy yet to be covered up, the prospects of relief on the ground seem dim.

Another successive year of pandemic-propelled woes will be morally sapping for many and survival will become an enormous challenge for a huge section of the population.

Urgent succour in the form of lower retail prices of essential commodities is the need of the hour. The government must step in immediately to ensure prices don’t spiral further.

Battling lower income and health hazards, Indian consumers deserve better.