Akangjungla
The challenge of higher commodity prices cannot be undermined even as there are sections of people in the society who does not understand the terms like budget, economic growth, inflation and market policy etc. By rationalization, human being needs food, water, air and shelter to survive. For economists and policy makers, their target is how to control the price rises and present monetary policies that would not dampen the economic recovery. All these are unable to address the distress the common people have to face on a daily basis.
In places like Dimapur and Kohima, the phenomenon in which the cost of public transportation and essential commodities are scaling higher each day is clear evidence that the measures taken or suggestions made in the central level does correct the problem commonly. The cost of traveling in taxi and autorickshaw for town trips are skyrocketing in both Dimapur and Kohima. The easiest and the most convenient excuse the commuters get to hear is the rising price of fuel. Likewise, for the hike in the cost of essential commodities is the nationwide inflation. The cycle seems to be never-ending.
For instance, recently an auto-drivers in Dimapur said, “Ki koboh na, it has been difficult these past few days. We don’t get that many passengers any way as compared to before and plus we have to make extra expenses on fuel.” His respond to the challenge is one of hopelessness for any other alternatives to address the price rises. Likewise, for most consumers and commuters, the most predictable respond would be “opai nai toh na.”
People in general have become very comfortable to cite two reasons for the inflation in the local context- the two years of pandemic followed by the Russia-Ukraine war. Conversely, the spike in price is not a recent occurrence; it is just that the effects are more alarming now. The prevailing combination of more expensive cost for survival and lower incomes should be a matter of concern for all. The cause is more complex and it would require more than any temporary quick fix solution.
The search for solution has to start from holding the policymakers, government agencies and the stakeholders accountable for delivering better public services. The speculation among the people that, nothing can be done to bring changes in the system needs to be replaced by a new set of understanding. It is high time to address the problem of the price inflationary pressure on the economy and the burden put on the common people and perhaps, the solution lies with the people itself and now with the authorities. Therefore, despite all kinds of motivational propositions to challenge the structure, unless the state has a conscious driven public to assert good governance, the problem will continue to exist in one form or the other.
Comments can be sent to akangjungla@gmail.com
