Millions are suffering because of unjustified price hike
Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims around the world. Religious sentiments run high during this month. Often empty mosques filled up with religious devotees during this month. People become much more religious in this month. But all the prayers, fasts and religious devotion failed to stop the traders not to increase the prices of food items. A new disturbing trend has developed in last 12 to 15 years to hoard the food items before the Ramadan and than suddenly increase prices to earn super profits.
The prices of fruits, vegetables and other food items went up to the sky without any justification. The prices of fruits and some vegetables went up to 100% and almost double in couple of days. There was no shortage, stoppage or disruption of supply to increase extortionist prices. The reason is simple. There is no price mechanism in the country and state failed to regulate the free market economy. The traders, businessmen and investors want to make huge profits to satisfy their greed for money. I will be keen and much interested to know the other reasons for this artificial price hike.
The overwhelming majority of the population no longer afford to buy fruits and even chicken.
The increased numbers of Ramadan Dastarkhwan is another indication that how the poverty forced the people to eat free food at these places. The interesting fact is that the same people responsible for price hike mostly arrange free food for poor people. This is how they share their wealth with poor masses. These free food places mostly runs in Ramazan and gave the impression that poor masses only needs free food during the fast season and rest of the year they can afford to buy food. The issue of poverty is not going to solve through charity of some rich people but through economic policies to eradicate poverty.
Some people try to justify this greed for arguing that consumption increased in this month and supply decreased so the prices go up according to the supply and demand theory. This is lame excuse because shops and roadside stalls are full with fruits and other food items. There is sudden increase in the supply and markets are over burdened with supply. This phenomenon has nothing to do with supply and demand. There is no shortage of any food item at the moment but still prices went up like rocket. It has become norm that the prices will start to fall in the second week of the Ramadan and this trend will continue until Eid. The prices will again shoot up just few days before the Eid. This is all well managed system to exploit the needs of the people to make huge profits.
Traders Making Money
The matter of the fact is that big traders, suppliers, wholesalers use this month to mint extra money from the people. The state has failed to control prices as there is no price mechanism exist in the country. The local administration and market committees issue price lists but just as a formality and failed to stop the price hike. Now the government has started subsidised Ramazan Bazars to supply relative cheap food stuff to poor people but nothing being done to bring the prices under control. The free market economy is free all in this country. The traders, industrialists and big businesses are free to create cartels and monopolies to control the supply and prices. They are free to fix prices to make maximum profits. The state institutions have become silent spectators in this whole process of price hike. The state as a regulator failed to regulate the prices and protect the masses.
Ramadan Transmissions
Since the mushroom growth of the private channels in the country, a new phenomenon has developed in the electronic media to organised special Ramadan transmissions to promote commercialism during this month. The new breed of brand conscious religious scholars and entainers have sprung up. Most of these scholars are ex-pop stars or actors who runs marathon transmissions to boost commercialism and does whatever is necessary to increase ratings.
They bring poor people to their shows and than to prove their generosity, they help them and asked others to help. They just show case poverty, generate sympathy and than disappears into their comfortable lives. These shows are contrary to the spirit of this month. Multinational and big national companies now use every occasion, celebrations and festivities to make financial gains and to promote their brands. Commercialism has taken over every festivity either religious or national. In the world of business, everything is being done to increase consumption and profits. Only people with can enjoy such commercialised festivities. Overwhelming majority now only thinks about how to get next meal and how to manage next day. Their struggle is to get a piece of bread for their families and how to drag on the life in the poverty and misery.