Shillong,Sept 16: VPP MP Ricky Syngkon has urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to address the Issue of price rise in state.
In a letter addressed to the chief minister on Monday, Syngkon said, “I write to you on behalf of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) to express our grave concern regarding the sharp and unprecedented rise in prices in Meghalaya, particularly that of essential commodities. This steep escalation in prices has caused immense distress to the common people, especially the poor and marginalized sections of the society, thus calling for an immediate and effective intervention of the state government. On the 13th September, 2024, as a mark of protest, a peaceful one-day sit-in demonstration by the VPP was held at Malki football ground, Shillong to draw the attention of the state government to this pressing issue. The VPP strongly believes that such alarming rise in prices is exacerbated by various factors, including the presence of multiple toll gates on the state and national highways, and the failure of authorities to prevent exploitation of farmers and consumers alike. Despite several opportunities for the opposition to raise this issue during the recently concluded Assembly session, it was not given adequate consideration. As a result, we have been left with no other option but to take this matter to the streets. The people of Meghalaya are suffering, and it is the responsibility of the government to take immediate steps to tackle this issue”, Syngkon said.
Four demands of the VPP
1 Investigate and address the reasons behind the rampant price rise, especially relating to essential commodities.
2 Regulate and monitor the functioning of toll gates and check points along the highways, which significantly attributes to the increased cost of goods in the state.
3 Ensure that farmers are not exploited by middlemen and that a fair price mechanism should be in place and administered to protect the interest of both the producers and the consumers from unjustified profiteering.
4 Strengthen the Department of Food and Civil Supplies to enforce government-fixed prices and address the widespread violations of these price controls.
5 Address the transportation challenges caused by the Umiam bridge being unsuitable for movement of heavy-loaded vehicles carrying goods (including essential commodities) to the city which are forced to take longer routes. This may have led to the sharp rise in prices due to increased transportation costs. Given that Meghalaya is dependent on supplies from outside the state, the government must urgently explore and create shorter alternative routes to ease the movement of goods.
“If these steps are not taken in a timely manner, the VPP will be forced to take further action, including continued agitation, to demand justice for the people of Meghalaya. We hope that the government will act swiftly to address these concerns and work towards providing relief to the citizens of the state.We look forward to your prompt attention and action on this matter”, he added.
