Prices of essentials up over 50% in a month, says AIDWA at Prakasam protest

Prakasam district is grappling with drought-like conditions and a scarcity of job prospects due to the El Niño impact, according to Kankanala Ramadevi, district secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA). During a protest at the Collectorate in Ongole on Monday, she expressed deep concern over the skyrocketing prices of essential goods.

Ramadevi stated, "The policies adopted by the Central and State governments have led to this situation, making life extremely difficult for the common people. We demand the government to take immediate measures to control the prices of essential commodities and supply 14 types of necessary goods to the public at low rates via ration depots."

She emphasized that AIDWA is carrying out a state-wide protest to urge the government to curb the surge in prices of all essential commodities, which have increased by more than 50% in just one month. The populace is anxious about sustaining livelihoods amidst a lack of employment and insufficient earnings, pushing the poor and middle-class into dire hardship.

Ramadevi also criticized the allocation of food crop rights to corporate entities and the actions of major traders and middlemen who divert essential commodities to the black market, thereby inflating prices. She warned that if the price hike is not addressed, statewide protests would be organized under AIDWA's leadership. District assistant secretary G. Adilakshmi and district treasurer B. Rajalakshmi also addressed the gathering.

An AIDWA delegation subsequently presented a memorandum to Collector P. Raja Babu, who assured them that their demands would be forwarded to the government.