Meghalaya TMC leader Richard Marak on Tuesday asked the government to act swiftly to address the recent spike in the price of rice
Marak in a statement said, “The government must act swiftly and decisively to address this issue and ensure that the people are able to access affordable rice.”
He said the recent spike in the price of rice has left many people wondering how they will be able to afford this basic staple food.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent price hike in rice, which is a staple food for all. The increase in price from Rs 32 per kg to Rs 40 per kg for ordinary rice(cheapest available in the retail market) and from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 50 per kg for Parimal rice is putting a significant strain on many households,” Marak said.
“Not only ordinary and Parimal rice, but similarly, the prices of other varieties of rice have also increased significantly over the past few months after the elections. This price hike is putting a significant strain on many households,” he added.
Marak said that the current situation is unacceptable, and the government must take immediate action to provide relief to the people who are struggling to afford this basic staple food. “The government has a responsibility to ensure that all citizens have access to affordable food, and failure to act quickly and effectively on this issue would be a dereliction of that responsibility. The people are looking to the government for leadership and action, and it’s time for the government to step up and do what’s necessary to ensure that the people are able to access affordable rice,” he said.
He said that the government should consider implementing price controls or subsidies to ensure that the price of rice remains accessible to all people, regardless of their income level.
Additionally, it’s important for the government to address the root cause of the price hike and take measures to prevent it from happening again in the future, Marak added.