Ruth Mary, Assistant Director, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Leh: Inflation has been rising since from August 2014, food inflation has increased by 7.55% in India which is highest in the last 21 months. When India affects by the inflation, we compel the market association to give or propose rate for one year and reset specific rate on commodities. To stop fluctuations of the price of unpacked items such as pulses and rice in Ladakh, we stock these items and set price which will be available at the same price in the cutoff season, as Ladakh remains cut off for six months. 

 

Before hiking any kind of price of commodities, we check the wholesale rate in Srinagar and Kargil. After verifying the rate of commodities with the seller and price fixation committee, we fix a genuine rate for the commodities. The price fixation committee is the one who decides to raise or lower the price according to the needs and demands of the people. 

 

This time, we have raised the price after considering the problems of the sellers who have been raising voice against it from last three years. From three years, the prices of essential commodities are the same, but the rate of other commodities or complementary goods like sugar and milk has been increasing. We have raised 10% at the price of most of the essential commodities. 

 

The quantity and qualities of the items have been fixed and will check accordingly by CAPD and Legal Meteorology department. The customer should first check the quality and quantity of any kind of items which they are buying. After checking that if one has a complaint, then they can complain us.  

 

As for a cup of tea, we have fixed ₹ 15 but the quality is that the tea maker will use condensed milk and quantity will be 170 ml of tea. So the people should look for the quality, as in the big restaurant, the people are ready to pay ₹100 per cup of tea, this is not a big thing.  If tea stalls charge higher than the fixed rate or in less quantity, then consumers can complain us.

 

One more thing, what the people in Ladakh do is that they buy commodities, vegetables or food items and give money whatever the shopkeeper asked. One never check the quantity of the commodities, they should be aware of the rate list which is displayed in every restaurant, and shop. Displaying of rate list is very important and if anyone found missing should complain, otherwise, we check them as a routine and don’t know about the problems faced by the consumer, they should bring their complaint to us.

 

People buy products from the shops without even looking at the MRP and expiry date written on the package and even without checking the quantities of the products, in such situation the dealers are looting the buyers.  

 

However, the shopkeepers are violating the rules and regulation of CAPD in many ways, selling expired items, not-displaying the rate list, selling rotten vegetables, overcharging, hoarding etc.

 

If shopkeepers flout rule for the first time we fine them and if they violate it the second time we file FIR against them. Till today, we have collected ₹ 1,55,700 fines from the defaulters and filed FIR against 4 shopkeepers who violated the rules. 

 

The price difference between the Leh and Kargil is due to the increased demand. Leh has more consumers as compared to Kargil. 

 

CAPD is a department not only works on the distribution of ration but works for the betterment of public, aware public about different schemes, supervise the 17 departments of Ladakh, supervise petroleum product, stocking the commodities for winter etc. 

  

 

•    Hoarding should be checked and end up in the city.

•    Regular checking of stocks and expired items.

•    Awareness of different rights to complain against the defaulters.

•    Divert to agriculture.

•    Discourage the use of fast food; focused on organic and traditional foods.

•    Call us on 01982-252376 if anyone has a complaint.

 

Tsering Sandup, EC, CAPD: Inflation is one of the major problem in India, the price of the commodities are rising continuously. But in Ladakh, the price has not increased since 2012. The local hoteliers and tea stalls unions are demanding for raising the prices of items from 2013 but no action has been taken till date. The rate list was the same as it was in 2012 so it is a genuine demand.

 

The price of commodities has increased in the last three years. On August 5, 2016, we held a meeting and fixed price for all the essential commodities which have been implemented from August 6 in the market.

 

Actually every year the price fixation committee monitor the price to raise or lower, but they did not prefix from the last 3 years. The shopkeepers were very sad as they have to sell some things without any profit.

 

The price of the commodities has been fixed by the price-fixing committee which is headed by ADC and includes Assistant Director, CAPD, Executive Councilor, CAPD, Legal and Metrological department, Municipal Committee, Information Department, Merchant Union etc.

 

The increase in the price of a tea from ₹ 10- 15 have some problems among the people, we are still going to verify the product used in making the tea and the price will be reset it if it is not justified. 

 

However, the difference of rate in Kargil and Leh district is that Leh being far from Kargil have the charge of extra transportation so the price of goods is higher than Kargil. In the coming two or three years, we are going to minimize the gap. Though it cannot be equal as in Kargil, this year, 50% of the vegetable price remained the same as of the last year, still, we are trying to lessen the price.

 

Most of the outside traders violate the rules and regulations of the CA&PD. They sell expired products and also take above the MRP rates. We have checked and fined many of these traders.

 

Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution is such a department which directly deals with the public. People should know about the rules, regulations and their right to fight against violation in the market. They should freely file complain against the defaulters to CA&PD office or they can come to the council office. 

 

 

People should be aware of the various acts and rights. Consumers have the right to inform, right to choose, right to seek redressal etc. to know the quality, quantity, weight and the price of the goods and services being paid for, so that you are not cheated by unfair trade practices and to seek legal redress against unfair or restrictive trade practices or exploitation.

     

•    To check the quality and quantity of the products before you buy and to check whether the price is justified with it.

•    To be aware of the right to complain about unfair trade in the market.

•    To maintain stock at the right time in order to excess in the cutoff months.

•    To address the grievances against the sale of defective goods or deficient services or adoption of unfair restrictive trade practices.

•    Verify the price of other commodities which requires for this and transportation charges which are genuine or not.