Pune: The steep price increase and shrinking income in Covid has discussed a big blow to many families who have struggled to make both ends meet.
Sagar Kasbe, who works for financial institutions, is forced to spend more than double the number of travel costs now because of the increase in gasoline prices.
“I used to spend RS 3,000 on gasoline per month earlier.
With increasing tariffs, I spent 7,000-8,000 monthly Rs now because the pandemic has left people like me with a limited choice when it comes to long distance trips.
I can previously ride the bus to Hinjewadi And back only for Rs 50.
But it includes the same distance now it costs me no less than Rs 300 because I need to travel with my private vehicle because the number of buses is limited to the route because the covid -19 sidewalk, “he said.
Not only professionals with limited income or decrease more on the trip, they struggle to manage their kitchen budget too.
“The retail price of cooking oil has increased from Rs 90 / liter earlier to rs 160-180 / liter now.
Prices of dry and vegetables also increased by Rs 2-20 per unit.
We cut angle wherever we can, but we still Spend 20-25% more in running a household, “Khadija Shaikh said.
A driver from Bibvewadi said that even though commodity prices per unit may be lacking, he added a lot at the end of the month.
“Consider paying Rs 25 more per cylinder LPG, Rs 10 more per kilogram Dal.
Coriander, which will cost RS10 per bunch, now costs Rs 25.
All of this and more soaring costs running the house,” he urged.
Although many families are packed with price increases by reducing purchases and use, there are several items that they cannot do without or compromise.
Yesu Jadhav, another professional work, said, “The price of milk has increased by Rs 2 per liter this month.
We need two liters of milk every day, with small children at home.
This alone means spending RS120 costs with our milk budget per month .
In accordance with this, the price of all dairy products also increases.
“The price of meat and fish is also boiling.
“There has been a drastic rates increase .
The case is similar to fish too.
Since the class, we started a free home delivery service, but we cannot maintain this model because of the increase in gasoline prices, “Vishal Kale said, the owner of the meat shop in Undri.
This situation has changed from bad to worse for professionals who have cut their salaries.
“I experienced a 15% salary deduction.
But the cost increased because we had to buy a new laptop and the phone for my son, improve our internet package, among others, to ensure uninterrupted learning from children and work from home for myself.
At where we used to pay Rs 1,000 in electricity bills per moth, we now drop Rs 3,000.
This increase in costs has been eaten in my savings.
If the cost of living continues to increase, without increasing income, middle class people like me will be captured in the demonic debt cycle, ” said a graphic designer from PCMC.
(With input from Shiladitya Pandit)