Price rise! Pressure rise!

What is necessary? Price rise or Free gifts?

    People of India are already facing many financial problems nowadays. Since the price rise of petroleum products, vegetables, provisions etc in the past few years have caused much pressure on the common people, they have opted for the change in Tamil Nadu Government. But changes in ruling parties have proved nothing but rise in the financial pressure again. 

     Public are already longing for decrease in prices of food products. In this condition, sudden extreme rise of milk and bus ticket prices have really given peak shock to the all levels of the Tamil people. Although there was regular increase in the petrol and diesel rates for the past ten years, price rise in the bus fares were not officially announced. Many luxury buses were introduced and the price slots of those buses were fixed, but hike of the normal bus fares were not made since December 2001. This was the first official price rise announced after 10 years. 

     The per km ticket fare of ordinary mofussil buses has rised from 28 paise to 42 paise, express and semi-deluxe bus fares has increased from 32 paise to 56 paise, super deluxe buses are now charging 60 paise instead of 38 paise and the ultra deluxe bus rates are 70 paise rather than being 52 paise. The minimum bus fare in urban areas other than Chennai is Rs.3 (Rs.2 earlier) and the maximum is Rs. 12 (earlier Rs.7). In Chennai the minimum rate has gone up to Rs.3 (from Rs.2) and the maximum has risen to Rs. 14 (from Rs.12). In the other case, the price of toned milk per litre has been revised from Rs. 17.75 to Rs. 24. The news was announced yesterday (Nov 16th, 2011) and was brought into immediate practice on the same day night. Thus these shocking prices have definitely led to the big drain of the common man’s budget.

     Tamil Nadu Government grumbles that the Central government is not providing them sufficient finance even after multiple requests and also charges the previous rulers for total drain of the state’s treasury. So, it says the rise in milk and bus fares is required in order to equalize / manage the drain. Even though various reasons were provided for this sudden hike, the burden is too extreme to be handled. Hence it is clear the state government follows the same path as that of the Central by imposing heavy burden on the common man to overcome their financial drain. 

     Instead, why don’t the managing parties think of any other alternate remedy to sweep away the problem? Another important field which brings high revenue to the government is the sales in the tasmac shops. Rise in those products and any other luxurious products might never cause such an opposition from common men. 

     The ruling Tamil Nadu party made many promises at its election campaigns. It announced that mixies, grinders, laptops, fans, cows, goats etc will be given free of cost. The party thinks that fulfilling those promises will maintain its good will. Hence in order to do it, the ruling party is in a position to improve its treasury. 
 
But, is it necessary to increase the state’s treasury through these heavy price hikes and use it for providing free gifts to the public? 
 
Is this the right way to fulfill those promises?

Will people feel happy getting the free gifts on one side and facing the heavy fares of the essential commodities on the other? Definitely NO.
 
The reaction is truly completely different. This immediate hike has definitely decreased the good will of the current ruling party. Will the party understand it and reconsider its decisions? 

Shall we hope that the ruling government will rollback these extreme increase in milk and bus ticket rates?