Tag: Inflation

  • Spirit of Mumbai: Farmers fed after 180 kms of walk in 6 days!

    Spirit of Mumbai: Farmers fed after 180 kms of walk in 6 days!

    We all heard about the farmer protest that is currently undergoing in Mumbai. The protest showcased events that are unprecedented. It leaves me in awe of the spirit of Mumbai and the farmers themselves. What a day it has been of twists and turns. It all started off with someone deciding to protest differently.

    So why are farmers and tribals protesting?

    Maharashtra farmers see successive droughts and are unable to make as much money as they should. They are in financial distress and are seeking financial relief. To save themselves from further droughts, they want to ensure that promises of river linking projects are implemented.

    Tribals who joined the protest are not looking to seek any financial help though! “Their participation in the agitation in such large numbers suggests a new edge in the countryside’s despair — while successive drought years, inequitable water management and pricing policies have seen a slow impoverishment of the farmer community everywhere in Maharashtra, the circumstances for the landless are ever more exacting” (reports Indian Express).

    The quintessential Maharashtra farmer is following a protest model from TN Farmers, who marched on in New Delhi last year. Tamil farmers raised slogans, shaved their half head and facial hair to protest their apathy. Mind you; the protest still did not gain the intended results. And farmers from UP got a loan waiver around the same time, based on a poll-promise by the Yogi government.

    I wrote about this briefly, after a Quint video brought forth a question: UP farm loan waiver, in a way, is funded by Tamilians based on how fragmented our taxation system is. I do not want to diverge from the topic; you can read more on that post.

    They decided to walk in the night, to avoid inconvenience to Mumbaikars!

    That’s where things started to change. The Government, instead of walking towards them, shamelessly requested the group to delay their march to avoid inconvenience to SSC and HSC students who are appearing for their exams. This was a bid for them to delay the political inconvenience they will face!

    However, the smart among them help decide that they would walk in the night, saving themselves from the scorching sun. And avoiding the fragile Mumbai infrastructure, often lamented, further trouble. This small gesture, and the smart thinking is downright awesome.

    The Spirit of Mumbai invoked!

    Wow! That was an incredible thought which touched Mumbaikars deeply. And Mumbaikar responded!

    I am amazed at the thought itself, and the speed with which Mumbai realized the importance of the farmers. I have often lamented the Spirit of Mumbai as something of an adjustment they do with their helplessness of the infrastructure (during floods mostly). However, the 2007 blasts and yesterday’s event highlight the spirit and how heartfelt they are.

    The farmer’s protest in huge numbers brings out Mumbaikars on the road, to be the Good Samaritan they always have been in crisis. Farmers are in crisis today, and the Spirit of Mumbai in invoked. Keep up Mumbai! The hands that feed deserve this small, but meaningful gesture.

  • Finally, the inflation has hit devotees

    As strange as it may sound, but it is true. And yes, welcome too.

    We have always heard this many times over, and in the movie Oh My God, where Paresh Rawal mouths the dialogue – “Inke yaha recession main bhi income kam nahi hoti, balki badh thi hai kyu ki log daar ke maare aur jhanjat se bahar nikalne ke liye aur zyada daan denge” (For these people, income never dips even during recession but only increases as people get afraid and donate more to get out of financial difficulties).

    On the first page of today’s Hindustan Times news paper is where I found the very title of this post. It was reported that there was a slight dip in this year’s income at city’s most famous mandal, Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, who hosts Lord Ganesha for 10 days during the festival. (more…)

  • Fuel Prices and its illeffects

    Everyone is up in arms with the back to back hike in fuel prices. To be precise, the Petrol prices.

    India is among large importers of crude oil and price of which is so volatile. All Oil PSUs in India are running into losses because of the various subsidies given by the government for all petroleum products. In a way, India is trying to liberalize its economy. The subsidy is basically nothing but the Taxes we pay which comes back as a ‘fake’ relief to us.

    Ideally, removal of the subsidy should help government in many ways. One of them, it should end up saving subsidy money which can be diverted to Infrastructure development (and not govt. officials’s pockets). If the funds are properly channelized, I think we can still keep growing as a country in terms of economy and people.

    How it is linked to Inflation?

    It sounds simple but it is not, trust me. Food products’ prices are the first to go up the moment there is a hike in petrol prices. Reason often cited is the rise in Petrol prices increases transportation costs. One should remember that Government has only raised the prices of petrol and not diesel on which all trucks run and in that sense, it should not affect the food prices at all. It is the middle men who are cashing on the petrol hike opportunity to steal. Manipulating the situation, they make the hay when the Petrol price rise sun is shining.

    They bloat up the prices of essential commodities which earn them good money and dupe all of us. Those who are employed do not get a hike in their annual pay on monthly basis and this makes it even tougher for upper and lower middle class. So, what do we say about people who live below poverty line or on it?

    Today, for a family of four, a day’s meal can cost anywhere from 150 to 600 depending upon various purchases they do. Fruits costing almost double in last 3 years. And government comes out with a report that an average Indian needs only Rs. 32 a day to eat and live peacefully.

    Beware of hikes and reductions!

    Every time we see a hike, we start fearing see our food bill going up. Cutting down on other spending is often seen as a way to counter the hike in our food expenses. One thing we should all force and apply is when fuel prices reduce, these bloated up prices should come down too.

    A liter of milk now costs more than Rs. 30 and can range from Rs. 22 for a low grade (read more water adulterated milk and vice versa) to even Rs. 35 for the higher grade in certain areas. Cost shouldn’t keep spiraling upwards every time the fuel hike is affected. There should be effective controls placed on essentials commodities.

    As an aside, ration supply in India is dogged with serious quality issues. The owners of these ration shops often buy adulterated and low quality commodities from open market and sell it in place of good quality commodities they receive from Government’s Food Corporation of India. The good quality commodity is sold at premium in open market. In the process they steal our right and money. No wonder in India, many do not even pay taxes.

    I have heard one of my colleagues from Netherlands once saying that they are happy to pay taxes because their government is giving them enough in returns. Ample and quality infrastructure, good life style opportunities, more people friendly initiatives etc.

    So getting back to the topic, any hike and reduction should correctly reflect in our day to day budget.

  • Onions are made for ever!

    This one is an interesting photoshop edit that I had come across today. Directly aimed at the frustration of Indian consumers, the Onions are bringing tears to every one without peeling off even a single layer of its charmed skin.

    Onions are made for ever
    Onions are made for ever – This came as a Mail Forward

    The humble King Onion has become a strong political pot-boiler of late thanks to its price of over Rs. 70 per Kilogram. Now this image classically displays that how costly the Onions have become. Onions are a must for more than 80% of dishes in India and Indians simply just need Onions with their Food. The last time I remember Onions reaching this price levels were in 1998.  You have to believe that, many a times the poor often only have Chapati, Onions with salt as Lunch and Dinner. Hence, price of Onions matter to Indians so much more.

    The news came in that Petrol prices are also going northwards, with Rs. 2.53 increase in petrol prices per litre by mid night of 16th January. This will surely add a lot up to the pressure a common man is going through.

    Onions, on the other hand can be very bad for health. As “Keep Write” writes, Onions can be hazardous too and many a times can even cause Food Poisoning. A recommended read.