At the moment there seems to be no effective control of the district administration on the price index of consumer goods, particularly, the essential goods. The price of edibles are jacked up at whims by those dealing in them. The traders couldn’t care less about the district administration. Nor do they care two hoots for the district price review committees. The deputy commissioners also don’t take pains to hold their regular monthly meetings which they are supposed to hold and which used to be held regularly in the not-too-distant past.
The worst sufferers are the low paid officials working in the public and private sector organisations who work on fixed salaries. It has become exceedingly difficult for them to make their both ends meet.
The government should spare the deputy commissioners and their subordinate executive magistrates from the protocol duties which have been consuming most of their time and instead direct them to keep a vigilant eye on the price index of consumer goods. The district price review committees should be holding monthly meetings. They need to be reactivated. There is no point in jogging them into action when the holy month of Ramadhan or Eids approach. These Committees should , in fact, be functional round the year.

