byV P Marwah
July 07, 2010
The massive Bandh organised by opposition parties against price rise on 5th July 2010 is a wakeup call for the government.They better pull up their socks and do something to at least bring down the rising food prices - a common man's worry.There could be some long term and short term measures to be taken.Our government headed by a renowned economist perhaps has better ideas but its worth listening to a man on the streets who maybe does not know the ABC of economics but his suggestion could well be worth trying or at least heard.
1) Immediately stop future trading in food items.
2) Send advisory to all state governments to bring down VAT on petroleum products from peak 33% to to flat 15%(Aviation fuel to be left untouched).If the states If the states don't fall in line ,stop all their funds disbursement from the centre.
3)Build ware houses/cold storages on a war footing to store food items to save them from rotting.
4) Allow free movement of food grains & pulses etc across the length & breath of country.Monitor supply & demand position .Form a price regulatory authority for food food items 7 also form citizens committee at every District or Vidhan Sabha level to get feedback on prices.Deal with a heavy hand on hoarders & profiters.
5)Provide actual food subsidies where ever required,irrespective of WTO commitments.Subsidies should be in real terms & remunerative prices to farmers should also be provided.
6)To finance these measures increase prices of aviation fuel.increase duties & other levies heavily on liquor,bhang,cigerettes,gutka & pan masala .
7)Increase fare of AC-1,AC-II & AC-III by Rs200/,Rs100 & Rs50/ respectively.Also increase sleeper charges by Rs 10/ & 15% increase in fares of Rajdhani & Shatabdi Trains.
8) Foreign Travel Tax on persons travelling on Tourist Visa should be increased.
9)Collect Rs 10000/ per annum as cess on all owners of Luxury vehicles.Also increase custom & excise duty on such vehicles at least by 10-15%.Luxury vehicles can be defined as one costing more than Rs 5 lakh.
10) Organisations running Charitable Trusts for imparting higher education & Nursing Homes operating in the guise of Research Centres should also be brought under the purview of Income Tax Act.Monitoring such organisations is very necessary.
11) High priced mobile phones,apparels & luxury items should be taxed at a higher rate.
12) Security Transaction tax can be reintroduced.
13) MNREGA &Rural Health Insurance scheme are a drain on economy,so is the mid day meal scheme.They should be scraped as early as possible.These schemes are also a hot spot of corruption.
14)Politicians from all parties should discuss these and other measures to bring relief to the amadmi instead of organizing Bandhs or playing the blame game.If present strategy is not working why not try some suggestions put forward by oppositions parties & the Independent voice.If any of the measures give the desired result let the government alone take the credit.At least I shall be very happy.
And Last but not the least government expenditure specially unproductive one should be curtailed.
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