RS members express oncern over rising prices

New Delhi, Mar 9 (UNI) Expressing serious concern over the failure of the government to check runaway inflation and steep rise in prices of essential commodities, Rajya Sabha members today urged for streamlining the current Public Distribution System (PDS).

CPI member from Andhra Pradesh Syed Azeez Pasha said forward trading must be stopped and a detailed plan of action to check inflation and price rise must be placed before the House.

Moving a Private Members' resoultion to this effect, Mr Pasha said the real income of the people was eroding due to price rise. He said the rural inhabitants were suffering more as their income had not increased like their urban counterparts. He pointed out that there had been increase of 115 per cent in prices of 'moong dal' as well as other commodities.

''The government has woken up late...despite fiscal measures there is little impact,'' the CPI(M) member said.

He said the PDS in the country had weakened and due to this essential commodities had not reached the people.

''Farmers have got a raw deal,'' he said.

Import of commodities was not a good idea since it was expensive, and these could be procured within the country by encouraging the farmers through incentives.

Congress member, Shanta Ram Laxman Naik said the signs of determining price rise was not definite and the government must not be blamed squarely. ''A rational use of essential commodities has to be done and more items like soaps should be made available through the PDS,'' he said.

The government had to monitor retail trade whenever it flourishes as the big business houses are now involved in it.

He pointed out that the advertisement in TVs jack up prices to unwarranted proportions. Some ads for 15 seconds fetch upto Rs one lakh and more.

The BPL formula has to be reworked and the entire PDS system has to be computerised to help reach the poorest.

Price rise also occurs as the country develops and GDP grows, Mr Naik said. He said due to international forces too, there is a rise in prices.

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