The sudden spurt in inflation in retail markets has triggered huge concern over unprecedented rise in the prices of vegetables and fruits across Kashmir and the trend is unlikely to go down in retail markets in coming few months. Price of tomatoes shooting up to over Rs200 per Kg shows unprecedented rise in the consumer food price index which directly would has a bearing on paying capacity of consumers in purchasing consumer goods of daily use. Even if the industrial development index rise may be on rise, the inflation in retail markets if not controlled and contained in short time would pose greater risks to microeconomic environment in Jammu & Kashmir like many states and union territories of the country. The immediate concern of the people is not only on rise in prices of vegetables and fruits but also in prices of other goods of common use like cereals, eggs, milk, pulses edible oil and spices. So if the prices of essential commodities are not controlled and contained well in time in Jammu & Kashmir, the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department would find it difficult to overcome the challenges of food inflation in Jammu & Kashmir which may show unprecedented rise due to occurrence of supply side issues in view of frequent disruption in weather conditions in coming months. Since the vulnerability of common consumer to food and fuel prices has already changed the very complexion of retail markets in Jammu & Kashmir, the role of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department would by all standards of understandabilities be vital in stabilising the prices of the goods of common use like vegetables, cereals, eggs, milk, pulses, edible oil and spices.
“Allowing the retail markets to operate business and trading activities on their own whims and wishes without following certain guidelines on inflation from the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department would finally go against the basic spirits of consumerism in Jammu & Kashmir. Never forget that the concept of modern consumerism is embedded in protection of the consumers against useless, inferior, or dangerous products, misleading commercial advertisements and unfair pricing”.
Amid a sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities the enforcement wings of the twin directorates of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FC&CA) in Srinagar and Jammu needs to be reviewed for the purposes of their complete revival with focus on containing and controlling the prices of goods of common use in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. The prices of the goods of common use if not contained and controlled in time would finally have a bearing on the accessibility of people to goods of common use. Allowing the retail markets to operate business and trading activities on their own whims and wishes without following certain guidelines on inflation from the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department would finally go against the basic spirits of consumerism in Jammu & Kashmir. Never forget that the concept of modern consumerism is embedded in protection of the consumers against useless, inferior, or dangerous products, misleading commercial advertisements and unfair pricing.
