Today (31/03/2015), the Shimla Labour Bureau of Govt. of India has released the Consum…er Price Index (Industrial Workers) – CPI(IW) (Base 2001=100) for the month of February’15. The Index figure has come down by one point from 254 in January’15 to 253 in February’15. But the interesting feature is that the CPI(IW) remains almost static during last eight months. In July’14 the Index had shot up by 6 points in a single month to 252. Thereafter from August to December’14, it stood static at 253 points, only to rise by one point in January’15 and again came down to 253 in February’15.
When the common toiling people are suffering from sustained price rise of all essential commodities
, the inevitable question comes, how the index remains static for the most part of the year? Is it a true reflection of the bitter experiences of everyday life of the common people? Or, is there any behind the scene machinations to exhibit the effectiveness of the Central Govt. in containing price rise (inflation) and simultaneously robbing the workers of their legitimate dues in form of compensation to price rise (Dearness Allowance) as a gift to the corporates as well as the governments? No doubt, if the Govt. succeeds to register albeit artificially a very low or zero inflation rate, it will have serious ramification on the common people at the advantage of the corporates and the super riches.
A brain-storming analysis/ review on the issue is urgently warranted.
– Mihir Dasgupta