A year of food inflation
Throughout the whole of the calendar year, 2024, which ends this December, the consumers have had to face hard days due to abnormal prices of essential food items. The retail market has, at all times, kept up soaring prices of vegetables, onions, and potatoes, coupled with excessive rates of grocery items like rice, dal, edible oil, soybeans, etc. An unusual trend was noticed in the prices of onions and potatoes, which have been frequently fluctuating.
The middle class and, more so, the people who earn a livelihood by menial services, small artisans, and other daily earners like unskilled workers and rickshaw pullers have been hard hit by this persistent price hike.
In fact, price rise is linked to the supply-demand ratio. With all kinds of articles abundantly available in shops and retail outlets, there is no earthly reason for inflated prices. Through your esteemed daily, the authorities concerned are urged to act promptly and effectively to control the prices in order to halt that inflationary trend, to bring smiles to people at the dawn of the New Year.
Pannalal Dey
Guwahati
‘Act East, Act Fast’
Presiding over the 72nd Plenary Session of the North-Eastern Council in Agartala, the Union Home Minister has made an observation that the unprecedented development of infrastructure in the Northeast in the last ten years has not only reduced the physical distance but also the distance of the hearts between the people of this region and Delhi. The editorial, 'Modi's Act-mantra' published in your esteemed daily on December 23, has rightly said that the last ten years have been "golden years" for the eight sister states of the Northeastern region, and it has been possible for the extraordinary initiative of the Modi government to sign several peace agreements with different armed groups despite the ethnic violence in the troubled state of Manipur. What is needed now is establishing peace in the entire region, which appears to be the biggest challenge to the government at the Centre as it will immensely facilitate DoNER and the North Eastern Council (NEC) to implement the mantra of "Act East, Act Fast, and Act First" successfully. Given the location disadvantage, the entrepreneurs in the Northeast need easier accessibility to bank loans. Framing of separate banking guidelines exclusively for the Northeast will indeed be a game-changer in bringing about massive change in the lives of the people of the region. The institutions like DoNER should play a pivotal role in improving the investment ecosystem in the region due to the remarkable development of road infrastructure. The setting up of three semiconductor units in Assam will definitely usher in a new era of the manufacturing ecosystem in the region. It will become the largest investment in the region and a positive outcome of Modi's Act-mantra.
Iqbal Saikia,
Guwahati.
Sustainable development
The postmodern era has brought remarkable changes to human civilization, marked by advancements in industrialization, urbanization, and mass literacy. These developments have redefined the landscapes of our localities, symbolizing 'progress and development,' a milestone integral to nation-building. Industrialization and urbanization, in particular, have significantly contributed to economic growth, technological innovation, and infrastructural improvements, offering numerous benefits to human society. However, alongside these advancements, we must also acknowledge their adverse effects on the environment. The rapid expansion of industries and urban infrastructure in a fast-growing city of Assam like Guwahati (also known as the gateway to Northeast India) has resulted in fewer areas covered as green spaces near the urban hubs, in comparison to before. This is also one of the central causes that has contributed significantly to the worsening of the city's air quality index, posing serious health and environmental challenges. According to a report revealed by IQAir in 2023, Guwahati was ranked as the second most polluted city in the world, with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 105.4 micrograms per cubic meter, which was 21 times more than the WHO guidelines. Development, while vital for societal progress, must be approached with a long-term vision that carefully considers its ecological and social implications. The unchecked exploitation of natural resources and the neglect of sustainable practices could lead to irreversible damage to our environment, ultimately undermining the very progress we aim to achieve.
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to draw the attention of concerned authorities and citizens to this pressing issue. It is imperative that we adopt sustainable development practices that balance economic growth with environmental preservation. Let us work collectively towards creating a future where progress and sustainability go hand in hand, ensuring a better quality of life for both present and future generations.
Heratateung Ngame
Gauhati University