Sugar Prices Shoot Up

While the weekly inflation numbers report near zero inflation rate, consumers feel greatly affected by sugar prices which are , now, Rs.30/- in retail. Govt. needs to totally decontrol sugar industry and let market forces play freely. We have a vicious circle of large sugar cane production -leading to slump in prices- lower cane acreage leading to spurt in sugar rates. Govt. should , however, remain alert on prices and permit liberal imports to check any manipulation by producers or traders.

We only have to look at the example of allowing free business in telephony and see the results. After decontrol of telephone industry, India is truly ' speaking " with probably the lowest rates in the world.