THE Chief Minister’s assurance to modify the price control scheme and make available more funds to give relief to people reeling under escalating prices of essential commodities needs to seen in the perspective that inflation is a national  phenomenon and only the central government can do anything about.

However, the state could take its palliative measures such as fighting hoarding, speculation or corruption in the distribution through cooperative societies or other public channels. Goa depends for supplies of food and vegetables on neighbouring states. In order to make these commodities available to people, government agencies have been doing bits of jobs. But perhaps we can get better relief by curbing arbitrary jacking up of prices with some strong administrative action.
Under the scheme, the state government would prefer to provide subsidy on some commodities, preferably cereals and pulses. But it is also a fact that inflation is not going to ease in near future. Will the state government succeed in sustaining its move till then? The government can approach the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar to make available more food grain and supply the same through its outlets. But here again the major problem is a sizeable number of people do not have ration cards. These people are dependent on open market. Little doubt unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities have created a serious difficulty not only for people but for the government also.
The government should at least ensure that unscrupulous businessmen do not exploit the situation to their advantage. It should send a strong word of warning that anybody thriving at the miseries of the people would not be spared. Though the price hike is a national issue, one aspect is quite significant: the scene in the states which have been producing cereals, pulses and vegetables in abundance has not been so scary. These states have been able to withstand to a major extent the present crisis. Even Mr Pawar is on the record that some of these states are coming forward to provide cereals and pulses at affordable rates to meet the challenges of the price rise.                              
The Goa government needs to tackle the issue of price rise more effectively. The present crisis was created due to failure of the monsoon last year in which 312 districts in 12 states were severely affected. This year the monsoon is better. Errant monsoon and vagaries of nature have an adverse impact on agriculture. India might have withstood global recession and the economic meltdown, but there is no denying the fact to ease the crisis, it is imperative that the states should have focus more on making agriculture productive. Goa must learn from the present crisis. It should draw a comprehensive scheme to diversify the agricultural activities and encourage farmers to adapt to the changing times.