Bhopal:
Dal, the most basic item in the common man's everyday meal, is now out of reach for many.
The issue of rising prices is expected to be a top priority in the winter session of Parliament, which begins on Thursday.
From around 25 rupees per kilo last year, most dals are now available at 95 rupees per kilo this year.
Riding on the delayed monsoons, pulse prices doubled in August. Since then online trading and speculation has hiked prices of every dal in the market by a few rupees every week
Compared to 2008 prices, most dals are now available for triple the price or more.
''Earlier dal was made with every meal, once in the afternoon, once in the evening. Now we make dal once a week and try to make it last for a few days,'' says Sonal Mishra, a housewife.
While the middle class has cut down on consumption, the poor have stopped eating dal altogether. They have been eating roti, saag and salt for months now.
Sales too are down by half as a result of soaring prices.
''The man who used to but 30 kilos is buying 3-5 kilos now,'' Deepak Woodlani, a dal wholesaler.
The rising pulses prices have only made it tougher for aam aadmi. Gradually dal is getting absent from their menu.
The issue of rising prices is expected to be a top priority in the winter session of Parliament, which begins on Thursday.
From around 25 rupees per kilo last year, most dals are now available at 95 rupees per kilo this year.
Riding on the delayed monsoons, pulse prices doubled in August. Since then online trading and speculation has hiked prices of every dal in the market by a few rupees every week
Compared to 2008 prices, most dals are now available for triple the price or more.
- Tuar: Rs. 25 (2008) Rs. 95 (2009)
- Moong: Rs. 24 (2008) Rs. 85 (2009)
- Masoor: Rs. 20 (2008) Rs. 65 (2009)
- Urad: Rs. 33 (2008) Rs. 65 (2009)
''Earlier dal was made with every meal, once in the afternoon, once in the evening. Now we make dal once a week and try to make it last for a few days,'' says Sonal Mishra, a housewife.
While the middle class has cut down on consumption, the poor have stopped eating dal altogether. They have been eating roti, saag and salt for months now.
Sales too are down by half as a result of soaring prices.
''The man who used to but 30 kilos is buying 3-5 kilos now,'' Deepak Woodlani, a dal wholesaler.
The rising pulses prices have only made it tougher for aam aadmi. Gradually dal is getting absent from their menu.
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