Shillong: The Meghalaya Joint Council of Trade Unions & Associations (MJCU&A) and Meghalaya unit of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Wednesday held a demonstration opposing the daily hike in the prices of petrol and diesel and a monstrous hike in the price of cooking gas.
Addressing the gathering, MJCU&A president MN Bhattacharjee said this (price hike) has triggered an overall inflationary spiral in the economy. “Rising transportation costs are leading to not only in the rise in prices of all essential items, including food, vegetables, milk and other articles of daily consumption, but also taking a heavy toll on the pockets of daily commuters,” said Bhattacharjee.
The association gave a comparative study of trend in hike of prices of fuel and edible oil, over only last two month, showing a grim picture:
Petrol Price in Shillong as on
01/11/2021 Rs. 104.91 per Litre
31/10/2021 Rs. 104.12 per Litre
01/10/2021 Rs. 97.11 per Litre
Diesel Price
01/11/2021 Rs. 97.44 per Litre
31/10/2021 Rs. 97.76 per Litre
01/10/2021 Rs. 89.03 per Litre
“Mustard oil price, which was Rs. 235.00 per litre here in the batch supplied in market in 07/2021 has been increased to 265.00 per litre in 09/2021. It has more than doubled in one year. Similarly, the rates of sunflower oil have risen up to 95 per cent and those of peanut oil and soya oil by up to 60 per cent. each,” added MJCU&A president.
AITUC president T Sangma said the hike in prices of fuel petrol, diesel, LPG are creating immense problem for daily commuters, particularly the students and rural people.
“The state government must monitor and regulate the fares charged and notify the same prominently for information of everyone. Sufferings of people are increasing continuously who are already tremendously affected by the Covid pandemic continuing for almost two years,” added Sangma.
The association also submitted a memorandum to Chief Secretary Rebecca Suchiang on the exorbitant price rise and requested for relief. They also urged the CS to take steps to control the fare charged by private vehicle operators.