Today the Govt. has finally increased fuel prices steeply as was inevitable with international crude price spiraling. I do not know why this government waited so long in taking this decision? Is this hike going to affect poor and rich equally? A uniform price hike in fuels would inevitably mean that a person who has a scooter or a bike in a family of 4 or 5 will be reduced to travel by the pathetic public transport system (look at the buses from Delhi to Gurgaon, or the state of affairs in Mumbai local train.. and what to talk of buses in rural U.P. and other states!!), while the rich / super rich would continue running 4 cars in a family of four. Why should the price of petrol or diesel or as a matter of fact, even onions & potatoes, be same for a person earning Rs 100 a day and for those earning in millions like the Ambanie’s, Bajaj’s, Wadia’s or other such people. Do we really deserve to be called a Socialist Nation? Where will this disparity lead to? Can no one see a rebellion brewing? What would happen when the marginalized will have no money to live? Will they die or would they retaliate? My guess is that crime would increase. An empty stomach can even produce young killers for as low as Rs 500 (see recent reports in National News papers). Who is to be held responsible then?

There can be ways to help ease the situation. Insulate, or at least cushion the poor a bit. Do rationing of diesel / petrol and establish robust systems that monitor and enforce against black marketeering of the fuels. Another way could be higher prices for higher consumption of fuels like the telephone tariffs in the older days, which increased as one utilized more of the services. When resources are less & demand is huge, this is how a balance can be made in the society. This is exactly the case with fuels these days. Production of cars may be reduced for domestic markets & ‘Bicycle zones’ may be created on the lines of China and some other countries. Surplus cars may be exported to other countries who can afford.

Reduce the fleet of supporting cars around ‘Netas’, put a check on the surplus use of petrol and diesel by bureaucrats & the likes who immensely misuse their official cars for personal usage. Only when positive steps like these are taken, we can expect the gap between rich / powerful & poor to be reduced & society to continue at peace.

Article sent by Sumit