Onam Rush Meets Rising Prices as Essential Commodities Become Costlier in Keralam

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is in the midst of preparations for Onam, with only two days left for Thiruvonam. Malayalis are making their final purchases of essential commodities, but a sharp rise in prices has raised doubts over whether they will be able to celebrate the festival as they did in previous years. Prices of everyday essentials, including rice and vegetables, have increased sharply. While prices continue to rise in the market, the government and Supplyco, which are expected to intervene and provide relief, have remained ineffective. Although Supplyco claims to have intervened in the market and distributed kits, it is clear that these measures have not provided relief to people from the inflation. In what appears to be an attempt to divert attention from reports of rising prices, the Congress cyber wing is seeking to counter the criticism by highlighting a claim that Supplyco recorded a record Onam-season turnover of Rs 250 crore. However, last year's figures tell a different story. Onam was celebrated on September 5 last year, but Supplyco's turnover had already crossed Rs 385 crore by September 2. Last year, when prices increased, Supplyco had provided essential commodities at subsidised rates and organised Onam fairs at major centres across all districts, offering relief to people from the price rise. This year, however, the fairs and kits have largely remained symbolic. Prices of ration rice, which had provided relief to ordinary people, have risen sharply. When vegetable prices increased, the LDF government had made vegetables available at lower rates through Horticorp. The vegetables were supplied at an average discount of 20 to 30 per cent compared to market prices. However, the UDF government has failed to intervene in the market and control the price surge since it came to power. The price of rice was the first to increase. Essential commodities, including sugar and pulses, have also become significantly more expensive. The varieties of rice with the highest demand have seen increases ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 20. Prices have risen sharply within a month, and the increase continues as the government has failed to intervene in the market. Matta rice, the most widely consumed variety in Keralam, now costs Rs 65 per kg, while basmati rice is priced at Rs 150. Sugar has increased by Rs 2.50 in one go. The price of coconut oil has crossed Rs 300 per litre, with prices ranging from Rs 350 to Rs 400 in several places. Prices are expected to rise further. Despite there being no shortage of coconuts or copra, interventions by coconut oil marketing centres in Tamil Nadu are affecting consumers in Keralam. Mills are allegedly making organised attempts to create an artificial shortage through hoarding and drive up prices despite adequate availability of commodities. Large traders in Tamil Nadu had widely procured copra in anticipation of the Onam market. This pushed the price of coconut oil from Rs 260 to above Rs 300. Coconut prices also increased following the rise in coconut oil prices. Vegetable prices are also surging. Over the past two weeks, the prices of several vegetables have increased by Rs 10 to Rs 50. Ginger, tomatoes, beetroot and beans have recorded particularly sharp increases. Despite the difficulties faced by consumers in the market, the government's failure to take even minimal action is making people's lives more difficult. The price of special rice distributed through ration shops has increased by more than one-and-a-half times. Rice that was supplied by the previous LDF government last year at Rs 10.90 per kg is now priced at Rs 26, following an increase of Rs 15.10. The quantity supplied has also been reduced. The five kilograms of special rice previously provided to priority-category beneficiaries holding pink ration cards has been reduced to three kilograms. Prices of flowers have also increased sharply. As a consumer state, Keralam cannot withstand rising prices without government intervention. The increase in the prices of essential commodities, coupled with frequent fuel price hikes, is placing a double burden on Malayalis. The impact of inflation needs to be effectively contained during festival seasons such as Onam. However, that is not happening in Keralam. For the past 10 years since 2016, the people of Keralam have never had to face such hardship, the article claims. The UDF has a history of failed experiments such as introducing Vamana Stores to undermine Maveli Stores and Janashree to weaken Kudumbashree, and has never been able to view people's issues from a pro-people perspective.