The considerable increase in the prices of vegetables even during their season have left the average household utterly exasperated. Prices of certain vegetables have remained unusually high for several months now.
The households in Delhi and its adjoining areas felt the pinch late last week when they realised that the prices of eggs had jumped by at least 50%. In Noida, one egg is currently being sold for Rs 8. A week ago, the same was available for Rs 5 each.
The price of tomato has remained considerably high for several months now. Not so long ago, its price had reached as high as Rs 120 per kg, matching the price of one kg of apple. The fruit is currently being sold for Rs 70 per kg in Noida. (See the rate chart below)
The unusual price rise even during their harvest season have left the family hapless.
Neha Bhanusali, a working mother in Noida’s Sector 77, said that her family had stopped consuming tomato many months ago. She said, “The rate with which the prices are soaring, it seems we will have to give up on many other vegetables. Our sabziwalas used to give us coriander free when we bought vegetables from them. Now, they are selling it for Rs 120 per kg and have stopped offering us for free.”
Jyoti Kumari from Sector 24 in Noida said, “We used to buy five kgs of potato for Rs 40 in winter. But last night, I paid Rs 30 for one kg of the same. They are selling old potato for Rs 15, but they taste sweet, so no point buying them.”
Price rise of essential commodities has been a single big issue affecting the functioning of the Centre’s Narendra Modi government. In September, the government had even imported 2,400 tonnes of onions from Egypt to check the soaring price rise.
Price rise of essential commodities had formed a key poll plank of Modi during 2014 Lok Sabha polls. One of his party’s key poll slogans was ‘bahut hui mahngaayi ki maar, ab ki baar modi sarkar. (Enough of being hit by the inflation, let’s now have a government led by Modi).