While we appreciate the efforts of the caretaker government to address the issue of galloping prices we feel that one must not overlook the various factors that affect the prices of various commodities, particularly the perishable ones. The market mechanism must be allowed to play its natural role and that is what must determine the prices. The government should identify first what, if any, forces are tampering with the normal function of the market mechanisms. And that is what we feel will be able to keep the prices down. For one thing the perishable items like vegetables cannot find direct access from the producers to the market.

In fact the outside influence on the price is affected at two levels. One is the middlemen, while the other is the toll collectors at various stages that add to the prices. Here neither the seller nor the buyer has any control on the prices. Unfortunately, neither the producers nor the buyers benefit from this system, it is only the middlemen who do. The other cause may be the shortage caused artificially by the commodities shying away from the market because of the government anti-hording measures.

The government must undertake measures that inculcate confidence in the wholesalers as well the retailers. While we expect under the present situation the incidence of toll collection to go down, the honest businessmen must be encouraged to ply their trade without let or hindrance. There is also the need to ensure the interest of the consumers by enacting the necessary laws in this regard.