DIMAPUR, APRIL 8 (MExN): The Konyak Union (KU) today questioned the “35% price increase on essential commodities” on account of “uncontrolled black market in Assam.”
A press release from the KU appealed to all concerned business agencies/individuals to abstaining from taking any form of advantage on account of this current pandemic. It meanwhile asked the State Government to intervene and check the rise in price.
“Such sudden lockdown has been ill managed by almost all the State Governments. It may be noted that the present crisis is not only confined to the pandemic alone but this pandemic itself is also creating social disorder on account of uncontrolled abnormal price rise. The existence of numerous and unaccounted black market in the neighboring State of Assam is causing drastic artificial inflation which in fact is very much severe than Corona virus itself,” the KU said.
The present scenario in Mon is one such example, it stated.
The KU informed that pre-lockdown, the price of Parimal rice was Rs. 27 per Kgs but it has drastically shot up to Rs. 37 per Kgs within a week’s time which clearly indicates 35% (average) rise in price.
Such random inflation if not curbed today through active intervention from the State Government, the KU stated, would make normalization of prices after the lockdown “unnatural,”
It asked the State Government to ensure/issue drastic orders in curbing down the operation of black markets at the source. It opined that Mon district, being a remote region with about 70% of citizens below poverty line, is bound to face chronic economic pandemic through such uncontrolled market system & supplies.
“Such situation is not only confined to Mon district but the entire north eastern states in general,” it added.
While appreciating the efforts of the district administration in controlling the price rise and making essential commodities available, the KU felt that if the market source is not properly checked, people will suffer. It also expressed concern that 50% of the district’s poor populace still do not have beneficiary cards/ration cards.
It therefore asked the Nagaland State Government to take up the issue of black markets with the State of Assam or at the market source.
The KU further asked the Minister and Advisor in charge of Mon district to intervene with the State Government to immediately take up necessary measures in controlling unnecessary inflation on essential commodities.
