Birkarnelzelzit Thiyam
Seeing the statistics of the uncontrolled price inflation in the State of Manipur, it does at times make me recall what happened with Germans at the start of the first war in 1915. At the start of the first world war in Germany there was a rush to buy staple foods to hoard, leading to price rise, and so the Government allowed local authorities to introduce a system of price ceilings, which varied from place to place, not just in the maximum prices set but also the foodstuffs affected. Farmers, who resented interference in the free market, took their produce to places with higher or no price ceilings, or used it for animal fodder.
As soon as the war broke out in Russia and Ukraine, the prices of a lot of imported items have been hiked for no reason. With the simple excuse “because of the war,” most of the wholesalers in Paona Keithel and Thangal Keithel have taken complete advantage of this. Funny but even the parking ticket prices in some areas of Imphal bazar have hiked from 20 to 50, seriously ?
As an entrepreneur who is running a food industry, the reason for the rise in raw material prices is really stupid. Some undercover transporters are playing a big game in this price hike. And it’s high time we find them out to put not just maximum selling price but a ceiling price as done in Germany.
And now that the war seems to have touched India, the tension between India and Pakistan have risen since India launched an unarmed missile to Pakistan. I have seen and heard the group discussion between the hoarders to keep so many daily essential items in stock only to be sold when the price hikes. This game will really affect the economy of the State. This hoarding will make the economy favour big pockets. History has taught us loud and clear that not just putting MRP will stop this rise but a price ceiling by the related organisations or the related Government officials.
Seeing the rise in gas prices in the USA, Vladimir Putin laughed and said to the media last Saturday to stop blaming everything on Russia as some big players of price hikers are also involved in this game. Just 20 cents jumped in the USA, with the prices of the gas even in the midst of a war. But here in Manipur, a bag of Maida has jumped from Rs 1200 to Rs 1570. I seriously hope the Maida’s in Manipur are not exported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Then the hike would seem believable. Not just this, the price of plastics jumped in 2 days with the excuse that it’s also a petroleum product gets on my nerves. Most of the plastic bags are manufactured in New Delhi and it takes 8 days to reach Manipur by truck-practically speaking. And the price hiked in 2 days ? You know what I am saying.
I know this is something we have been going on with the flow and less seem to care. But trust me - this has to stop for it will reach your pocket for something more with something less.
Lastly, I would like to take this chance in asking those in power to stop this hoarding and hiking. And not just depend on MRP but on ceiling. And to my readers, if you see anyone price hiked with stupid reasons, please report them.
The writer is an International Awardee and also a major in International Business Marketing from Algonquin, Ottawa, Canada. He is also the Managing Director & Chief Marketing Officer of Khoihee Industries, regd. under the directorate of industries and commerce, Government of Manipur. He can be reached at
[email protected] his motivational videos on YouTube at LWB Show.