Controlling price spiral

The price of various essentials has crossed a two-digit figure. The effect of which has been reflected painfully in our day-to-day life. The price of rice, our main staple, has increased 27 per cent in the last one year, and the prices of other goods are also increasing unabatedly. The government, however, has taken some notable steps to check the unbridled spiral of food price such as importing and stockpiling of rice, Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice for the poor and Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme for low-income groups. These steps for ensuring food security are useful but food security will remain a far cry, if the purchasing capacity of the commoners is not increased. Creating new employment opportunities along with income generating activities is a pre-requisite in this regard. But, regrettably, there is no sign of improvement of foreign and local investments in the country, while progress in the implementation of Annual Development Programme (ADP) and improvement in industrial investments are not up to expectation. Ensuring food security, easing fuel crisis, creating social safety net for the ultra poor, enhancing tax collection, using Information technology, improving regional communications and increasing flow of remittance should be the top economic priorities of the government. Lutfor Rahman Ghoraghat, Dinajpur E-mail: rlutfor12@yahoo.com