Agartala, September 13: Consumers in Kalyanpur are facing growing difficulties in managing household expenses as prices of several essential commodities remain high, while the alleged non-availability of subsidised sugar has added to the burden.
The issue came into focus at the weekly Kalyanpur market, where consumers reported steep prices for vegetables, cooking oil, onion and garlic. Many said they were being forced to cut down on purchases as their incomes remained unchanged.
Onion was selling at Rs 60-70 per kg and garlic at around Rs 200 per kg. Mustard oil was priced between Rs 200 and Rs 215 per litre.
Among vegetables, cauliflower was quoted at around Rs 200 per kg, while ridge gourd was available at Rs 80 per kg. Green chilli was being sold for Rs 160 per kg, while bitter gourd and brinjal were priced at Rs 50 per kg each.
Pointed gourd was selling at Rs 40 per kg and radish at Rs 20 a bunch. Sweet pumpkin was available at Rs 20 a bunch, while a single piece was also reportedly priced at Rs 20.
Consumers said the prices were making even routine market purchases difficult, particularly for families dependent on daily wages or fixed incomes. Several shoppers said they were buying smaller quantities or dropping some items from their lists to stay within their budgets.
The reported shortage of sugar through fair-price shops has further complicated the situation.
Consumers alleged that sugar was not supplied through government ration outlets in August and had not been supplied in September so far. They said sugar is meant to be available through the public distribution system at Rs 32 per kg.
In the absence of supplies, consumers have reportedly been forced to buy sugar from the open market at around Rs 70 per kg. Locals also claimed that the open-market price has been fluctuating.
Residents said the pressure was being felt across household essentials, including rice, pulses, edible oil, onion, garlic, vegetables and sugar. They said the cumulative increase was making it difficult to balance food expenditure with other household needs.
Daily wage earners were among those facing the greatest difficulty, as their earnings have not increased proportionately with the cost of essential items. Some consumers said they had to return home without purchasing everything they needed.
Middle-class families, too, were reportedly reducing expenditure on other requirements to cope with higher food costs.
Consumers expressed concern that continued increases in essential commodity prices could place an even greater burden on families with limited or irregular incomes.
They also urged attention to the alleged interruption in sugar supplies through fair-price shops, pointing to the significant difference between the government-prescribed price and the open-market rate.
No response from the government or concerned authorities was cited in the report regarding either the rising prices or the alleged disruption in sugar distribution.
