BHOPAL: Rishi Shrivastava, 40, is a marketing executive with a company producing & marketing fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). Pre-Covid, his salary was Rs 30,000 per month, which now stands at Rs 25,000 per month. He doesn't complain, not only because he knows the market situation, but also because for almost a year, he was without a job when his company decided to downsize the team during the Corona lockdown. But, what he does complain about is the situation he is in, with his income considerably down and expenses surging by the day.
“At one point of time, in this small salary I was able to manage my routine expenses, Rs 3000 installment against the loan for a two-wheeler, my two children’s school fee (which is not much) and house rent of Rs 9,000. My wife used to take tuitions for school children and she also contributed in keeping things smooth. Now, my salary has come down, tuition classes of my wife are off and prices of fuel and essential goods are constantly rising. I don't know what to do? And, as it happens when you are living in such conditions, my wife and I fight over issues, which never cropped up earlier", said Rishi.
He lamented that routine expense on fuel, grocery, vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs and medicines has also increased drastically."In the last two years, there has been an overall increase of 25 to 30 percent of these products. One litre edible oil, which we sold at Rs 85 per litre is now selling at Rs 150 per litre. Sugar prices have gone up by Rs 300 per quintal in the wholesale market in just one month. Sugar, which was selling for Rs 3650 per quintal last month is now Rs 3950 per quintal. There are so many factors responsible for this situation- steep hike in prices of diesel and consequent rise in transportation rates, tariff hike to rise in MSP to international market scenario, it all affects the prices of grocery. At least till Diwali, the prices will only go up", he said.
