Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) Making a meal has become a calculated risk in many households. With little respite from rocketing prices of fruits, vegetables and other foods people are trying to make do with a minimal menu.
As per the government’s data on annual food prices inflation released Thursday, wholesale prices of fruits, vegetables and other food commodities rose by 17.94 percent till the last week of January.

Prices of essential items kept rising with vegetables dearer by 20.93 percent, potatoes 40.57 percent, pulses 41.24 percent and fruits 8.67 percent during a 52-week period.

Forget the exotic splash of veggies like mushrooms and broccoli, the basic tomato, potato, onion are inching away from the common man’s reach, said Kripa Dwivedi, a housewife here.

“It’s really ridiculous. I don’t think I have ever had to my manage groceries like I did in the past few months. I have to keep haggling with vegetable vendors but what can they do…My kids complain when I don’t make their favourite potato dish which used to be cheaper, but now even that is so expensive,” Dwivedi said.

Vimla Devi, who earns Rs.2,000 a month as a maid is facing a particularly hard time.

“I have stopped thinking about vegetables. I have four young girls. I can’t afford the vegetables, flour, sugar or rice …not even at the wholesale rates now. I just make one chutney (coriander paste) dish and giver the (roti) with that. I hope things get better,” Devi told IANS.

The cost of rice has increased by 9.9 percent and milk by a whopping 15.47 percent.

“Earlier around a month ago, the cost of my one week’s vegetables and fruits would work out to Rs.250. Now it’s double that. It costs me Rs.500. I don’t know how we will cope in the coming weeks,” said Usha Kaushal, a 50-year-old housewife.

Potatoes are selling at Rs.15-20 per kilogram, tomatoes and onions are selling at Rs.24-30 per kg in and around Delhi.

For many, it’s becoming a nightmare stretching the household budget, and have been forced to make do with consuming lesser quantities.

“Prices of vegetables are very high and it is affecting our household expenses. We are vegetarians and face even more problems,” said Roshni, 56, a housewife from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.

“I worry that because of lower intake of vegetables, the health of my family will be affected,” she added.