Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 14 December 2024
Rakeshwar Lall, State President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti (HRS) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has urged the Administration to take swift and decisive action to curb the rising prices of vegetables in the region. In an exclusive conversation with Nicobar Times, Lall expressed growing concerns about the affordability of essential vegetables for lower- and middle-income families, emphasizing that the surge in prices has significantly impacted daily life.
“The current prices are simply unaffordable for most residents, and this is affecting families’ ability to meet basic nutritional needs,” Lall said. He pointed out that, in comparison, vegetable prices in Kolkata are notably lower than those in Chennai, suggesting that importing from Kolkata could be a solution to stabilize local prices.
Lall has appealed to the Administration to assist local businesses by facilitating vegetable imports from Kolkata. He also recommended reviving the practice of selling affordable vegetables through the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO Ltd.), a system that was previously in place to help reduce prices.
Additionally, Lall highlighted the challenges faced by residents of remote islands, where transportation costs further inflate vegetable prices. He called on the Administration to take measures to ensure that these price hikes do not affect islanders’ access to affordable and nutritious food.
“We need immediate steps to protect the common man from exploitation. Vegetables must be made affordable for all classes of residents across the Islands,” Lall concluded.