The Opposition on Wednesday staged a walkout in the Assembly over the rising prices of essential commodities.
Giving notice for an adjournment motion to discuss the issue, P. Thilothaman (CPI) said the government was not doing any meaningful market intervention measures, allowing hoarders and black market to flourish.
Reeling out the prevailing prices and the prices when the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was in charge of the government, he said there had been an increase of 200 to 300 per cent in the prices of essential commodities such as rice, coconut oil, vegetables, and fruits over the last three years.
Mr. Thilothaman said both the number of items and their quantity being supplied to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) ration cardholders through the public distribution system (PDS) outlets had been reduced by the government. He alleged that even commodities meant for subsidised supply to cardholders were being diverted to the black market.
Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said the government was totally insensitive to the plight of the common man.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said price rise was the biggest issue now before the common man. The government had spent Rs.573.5 crore during the last three years to subsidise the supply of essential commodities through the outlets of the Civil Supplies Department and the Kerala State Cooperatives Consumers’ Federation. In 2010-11, when the LDF was in power, the government had spent only Rs.76 crore under this head.
Minister for Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob said the price situation would have been worse than what it was, but for the efficient measures the government had taken by activating the PDS. He said the government was considering a proposal to increase the commission being paid to ration shop dealers.
