Price control of kitchen essentials on housewives’ wishlist

People belonging to middle-class families and college students have great expectations from Union Finace Minister Arun Jaitley, who will present Budget 2016-17 in the Lok Sabha on Monday. 

Housewives and salaried people are keeping their fingers crossed, wishing that the prices of essential commodities and fuel are not increased further.  

Homemakers feel the Budget should be kitchen-friendly and check the rising prices of essential commodities such as grocery items and vegetables. 

“Especially after the Railway Budget, I have high hopes from the  Budget. I hope that the government does not increase the prices of essential commodities yet again. I wish that this year’s Budget is a dream Budget. In the last two years, the prices of pulses and vegetables have skyrocketed, thereby destabilising the middle-class kitchen,” said Kritika Varshney, a 37-year-old housewife.

She added: “There were speculations that the government is going to increase the service tax and excise duty yet again. If it happens, it is going to affect our livelihood. The government should decrease the service tax and excise duty to control the rising prices. If they cannot reduce it, they should aleast keep it the same.”

Women want that the price of cosmetic products should be reduced. 

“If the government increases the prices of cosmetics, it is going to impact our pockets. Even men use cosmetic products such as cream, anti-tanning products, deodorants, shampoo and conditioner. In a family of four, all members use different cosmetics, depending on their skin type. So, the prices of the cosmetic products must be reduced,” said Rashmi Mishra, who works in a private sector.

Sunil Pandey, a senior executive at an IT company, wants that the prices of flavored drinks, packaged drinking water and tobacco products to be reduced.

“Many consume tobacco products. Like last year, if the prices of such commodities are increased, then many will choose to shell out money to stisfy their addiction by sacrificing their basic needs.”

Youngsters, mainly college students, are concerned more about the impact the Budget will have on the entertainment and travel/ tourism sector. “I hope the Budget brings cheer to our lives. I am sure that the BJP government will reduce the travel cost, especially those air fares,” said Nikhil Goel, a 22-year-old Delhi University student.

He added, “I stay in a paying guest accommodation and have a social life. I often go to pubs and cinema halls. Once in three months, I visit my hometown Lucknow. But if the prices of tobacco products, travel and entertainment modes shoot up, I am clueless how will I manage.”

His friend Manish, too, is anxious to hear the Budget, especially what is in store in the entertainment sector. “Visits to amusement and theme park, music concerts, liquor, chit fund and lottery should be made pocket-friendly. Mostly youngsters throng such places and the government should think that their pockets are tightly strung. We don’t get much pocket money from parents. To fulfill our dreams, we have to do part-time jobs. And if the Budget of entertainment increased, the income earned by the part-time jobs will not be sufficient.”