Team Herald
PANJIM: The summer is not yet arrived fully. But Goans have broken out in a sweat. With fuel prices continuously rising by the day, homemakers are at their wits end on how to make things work. The continuous price hike is driving homemakers nuts, completely wrecking their budgets. Homemakers dread reading the newspapers each morning for fear of fuel prices rising.
After the Goa budget, the fuel price hike is killing the home budgets of the common man. Fuel prices across the country have been raised yet again. Oil marketing companies raised prices of petrol and diesel again on Friday by 80 paise per litre each. Following the hike, petrol was retailing at ₹102.98 a litre in Goa, while diesel sold at Rs 93.87 a litre. The total hike during the last 10 days per litre is Rs 6.40 paise. If the govt has to spend money it takes a vote on account, but how will families take a vote of account to raise extra money to beat the fuel price hike?
Today team Herald spoke to several Goans to know what they think and feel about the petrol and diesel hike. Many questioned the Govt if these are the ache din promised by them. Everything was kept normal but as soon as the election results were declared in all 5 States the fuel price when going up while the pockets of the common man turned empty.
One of the locals from Mapusa, John Pereira said that when the price was hiked on the first day we were affected but today with almost nine times the price was hiked we feel the pinch, we think twice before we leave the house. Something while marketing I make a list for the entire week even mentioning the smallest item so that we can go at one time and get everything so that we don’t have to go again and again and waste money on fuel.
Another lady from Calangute Patricia D’Souza said that the Govt gave a budget saying byupachi Garaz na, but looks like the Govt doesn’t have to get scared but the price hike is killing us. Today we can’t go anywhere like before because the cost of fuel is up, the expense is up & even the LPG is gone up. Today I have to plan properly in the house and make sure nothing is down extra like before. And for this all thanks to the Government.
Meanwhile, a rickshaw driver from Panjim demanded financial assistance and a scheme as the prices are gone up but the business is low. Everyone wants to save their money but what about us. If we raise our tariff people to say we are looting but we also have a family. Today it’s not only the fuel price, my wife also can’t manage to buy another cylinder and we can’t cook extra or think of any celebration in the house as LPG cost is also up. Today the common man is crying while the rich politicians are enjoying the benefits.
Another housewife from Calangute, Irene Rodrigues stated that I was/am the home & finance minister of my house all these 37 years of my marriage I managed my house easily and stress-free but today with the soaring prices of commodities, LPG & fuel I can’t handle the household activities. We want the real good aache din, with these hikes we can’t even think of doing anything.
Celina Fernandes from Uttorda said that we housewives would manage our house with the money once given by my husband at the start of the month. But today I have to ask for money almost 3 times. We can’t run the house with 15 to 20k anymore. Today all prices are going up but the salaries and income of any individual from the family remain the same.
With the rise of fuel, several basic needs costs have also gone up. The vegetable cost is going up, also other needs too. The Government must rethink these prices and stabilise the same.
