The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities have thrown the family budgets of city residents into disarray, forcing them to eliminate expenditures which are not essential.
Anil and Sreekumari, a government employee couple hailing from Sreekariyam here, have cut down on their weekly outings to keep expenses under control. ‘’It would cost around a thousand rupees for our family of four to watch a movie and to have dinner from a decent restaurant. Such normal things have become luxuries nowadays as it has become difficult for the salaried class to stick to the family budget,’’ says Anil.
Now, the couple wait in long queues in front of the Civil Supplies outlets or visit the Chalai market in the evening to purchase commodities at cheaper rates.
They certainly aren’t alone to be on the monetary hot seats as many families in the city have cut back on other nonessential expenses. Now, they are weighing all options to stay afloat as another hike in diesel prices is looming large.
‘’The prices of vegetables, electricity charges... everything has gone up. Milk and LPG would soon join the list,’’ said Prameela, a bank employee. ‘’It’s surprising that the government and the policy makers are turning a blind eye to the issue,’’ she added.
“The frequent rise in petroleum prices has added to the inflation burden,” said Paraniyam Devakumar, general secretary of the Federation of Residents’ Associations Trivandrum (FRAT). ‘’It is sad that the burden has been passed on to the public,’’ he said.
“The diesel price hike will have a spiralling effect on the prices of other items such as vegetables, fish, meat etc as well. Electricity and transportation charges are also set for an upward surge. The inaction of the authorities is highly deplorable,” said Subhod, an employee at the Secretariat.
While the families are keeping a tighter grip on their wallets, the traders too are feeling the pinch. Najeeb, a vendor at the Chalai market, said that he was witnessing a sharp decrease in the sales during the past couple of weeks. ‘’I was forced to dump two sacks of tomatoes yesterday,’’ he said.
Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi Kothuval unit president Kalady Aji also said that traders were having a tough time. “There is a 70-per cent decrease in the sales of food and vegetable items,” he said.