Ranabrata is upset. He came to the Beltola market on Sunday with Rs 300 only. But he could not afford to buy all the commodities required to observe the Uruka formalitieson Monday evening. “Would you believe that the price of beaten rice stands at Rs 60 per kg? What makes molasses prices to go up from Rs 50 to 80? Does this festival belongs to the rich people?,” the carpenter told assamtimes.
Same it is in the case of Rashmita. The school teacher had to remain satisfied with the vegetables. She could not afford to buy meat or fish. “Mutton price has gone up from Rs 300 to Rs 450 per kg. Similarly, rou fish has hiked by Rs 350 from the earlier Rs 200 per kg. Its impossible for us to celebrate the bihu. Our purse is not overflowing with money to buy chital, borali etc for Rs 1000 per kg,” said a visibly upset Rashmita who teaches English with a local convent school.
This is how, the soaring prices have made it difficult for all section of the people to celebrate the bihu with all pomp and gaiety. Talking to assamtimes, a person who deals in mutton and chicken said that the supply of mutton and chicken has suddenly gone down mysteriously forcing them to hike the prices. He, however, hoped that the price would be affordable within the next 24 hours if the supply is restored.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi who had uruka shopping in this market admitted before the reporters that the prices of all commodities have gone up even in the time of magh bihu.
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