Another Raise: So Be It

June 27/2011: Diesel, Cooking Gas and Kerosene have now become dearer. Petrol has undergone its share of price hikes and people have learnt to accept all these with equanimity. The increase this time cannot be termed as a consequence of international fallout. Simply because, in reality, international petroleum prices have dipped in the last few days. The fall in the price per barrel will surely benefit the Indian exchequer too. That implies that at least this time through the “foreign price” thing won’t work. That apart, some senior Ministers, both bugged and not so bugged, had clearly stated that the hike this time would be ‘modest’. If 50 rupees per cylinder of LPG is considered modest by these gentlemen, then the Lord alone would be able to save this nation from a group of unfeeling administrators who consider a 15% price escalation as minimal.

Another repetitive fall out is awaited anxiously. After every dieseline price hike, there is bound to be a truckers’ and bus owners’ strike demanding an upward revision of freight and passenger fares. All that is also very much accepted by the populace. They know the time has come when all will be mute spectators to long lines of stalled trucks on the highways and buses in the stands. It is also understood by the people that the anticipated strikes will yield the results desired by the strikers. Even though they will get what they want, we the poor will be harassed nonetheless for quite some days. The most painful part, however, is that these strikers never consider bringing down their fares whenever, if at all, diesel prices fall. And it has been decreased in the past. That is on record. But cutting back on fares is never even a considered option. So be it.

In an agro based society and with millions of mouths to feed, the Indian farmer should be honored as a beacon of everlasting hope. Instead, it is he who is going to be hit hardest by the diesel price hike. As it is, in a so called corporate environment, it seems as if the farmer is the least wanted citizen of this nation. His land is being usurped as if he never owned it. The government plans everything for industrialists, from finance, transport and insurance to police security and policy changes. They in turn trample on the very basic needs of villagers who inhabited and tilled the land for generations that the government now desires to hand over to the industrialists. Now with diesel prices going up, the better off farmer with his tractor or the not so well to do with the power tiller shall be compelled to shell out much more without any corresponding increase in the support price for his produce. It is really amazing how we, as a nation, look down at those who feed us. We are least hesitant to toast those who plunder us with their wasteful goodies but detest those who take care of our most vital needs. Anyone could survive without electricity, steel, aluminum, cola drinks, automobiles, aircrafts and even Chinese made mobile hand phones. 

Mankind was surely born without them and it is known to have done exceedingly well sans these use and throw products. Just because we are lulled into an existence of convenience does not mean we start to abhor food. No life on earth is, as yet, known to survive without food. So, it is difficult to understand why this hatred towards and demeaning of the farmer who is solely responsible for giving us what we need most, apart from air and water.

When fuel, especially dieseline, prices are increased, truck and bus strikes should be anticipated and steps taken that these well organized groups be not allowed to blackmail the nation. Similarly the cause of the voiceless farmer must also be taken into consideration and the planners and administrators should definitely make it a habit to take care that a corresponding hike in support prices of food grains also is announced each time such fuel price increase take place.

It has been seen in the past that an increase, of say a 100 rupees, over a period of couple of years helps the corporate sector immensely while it upsets the people at large. All that political damage is overturned if the price is reduced by a meager 20 rupees just before elections come knocking at our doors. The stupid populace also forgets and forgives. A system that is capable of machinating so smoothly also must be capable to take care of society in a positive manner. When all other countries are, time and again, proving they are capable of undertaking their social obligations that surpass political needs and their systems function accordingly, it is incomprehensible why we as a nation do not bother to complete a circle and be done with it.