According to the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister Ranjit Kumar Dass, all the essential food items have increased in Assam since 2016, with the rates for onion and mustard oil registering the highest spike.
While answering Congress MLA Nurul Huda’s starred question, the Minister informed the House that the retail price per kg of onion in February 2016 was Rs 20 (minimum) and Rs 24 (maximum), and has increased to a minimum of Rs 42 and a maximum of Rs 45 in February 2021. Such rises can be seen in Mustard Oil, Rice varieties, bold Masur, whole Gram etc.
Whereas, the price of potato per kg at Rs 12 (minimum) and Rs 14 (maximum) has remained constant during the period. However, the rate has increased between February 2021 to June 2021, to reach a minimum of Rs 17 and a maximum of Rs 23. The price of Small Masur Dal has gone down during this period.
Dass informed that Enforcement Squads are being formed to check unnatural price rises in all the districts. He pointed out that the toll-free consumer helpline (18003453611) is also available for consumers to complain against instances of unnatural price rise or black racketeering.
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