Bear it with a smile
K S S Pillai
Come elections, political parties start vying with one another promising free electricity, free bus and train rides, and a plethora of other things free of charge if voted to power. Certain sections of the society are already being supplied essential items at a subsidised rate while some others get them completely free. At present, there is a demand for free vaccinations and free treatment for the raging pandemic. No one, however, wants to bother about the source of funds for the purpose.
It is no secret that the lion’s share of what governments spend is the money collected from citizens as taxes. Some are direct, which make the affected people holler in disgust, while others are indirect, which one pays in blissful ignorance. The price we pay at petrol pumps, for instance, includes taxes like excise and customs duty levied by the central government and those like sales tax and entry tax by the state governments.
It also includes freight charges and the commission of the dealer. The only way to reduce the price is to reduce the taxes, but none of the parties is willing to do so. No one even wants the present taxes to be replaced by GST, which would be much less.
One thing that we can predict with certainty is that the prices of commodities are bound to go up. And once that happens, they are not going to reverse their direction in a hurry. It has been happening everywhere all the while. Those who close their eyes in pretended ignorance must be knowing well that they are simply wasting their time in exhibiting mock horror, though they can count on some sympathetic votes at the time of elections.
In a democratic country like ours, it provides an opportunity to the opposition parties to make their presence felt. There would be indignant protests and demonstrations. If the parliament or legislative assemblies are in session, one can expect throaty slogan shouting and disruption of houses.
Our lawmakers have been protesting in novel ways against price rise. I remember a member of parliament riding to the house astride an elephant when the fuel price went up in the past. All appreciated his choice of the animal as he was a bit overweight. Some others came in bullock-carts. Even now, one can see them pedalling to the parliament after making sure that their photographs will appear in the next day’s newspapers. It is another matter that they soon revert to their chauffeur-driven limousines.
A petrol pump is the first place that prominently displays the price hike almost every morning. The redeeming factor is that it is usually in paise and we need not worry about tendering the exact price of what we buy. Modern technology has made it possible for us to pay online or give currency notes of round amounts, and the tanks of the vehicles will be filled with the correct quantity of fuel.
Some governments have been trying to bring back the past glory of cycling. While singing the virtues of cycling, they have constructed separate lanes for cyclists and kept some cycles at strategic points for the use of citizens. Some enthusiasts have formed cycling clubs, and they even pedal in groups along highways now and then, wearing special helmets, on expensive bicycles with gadgets like gears and speedometres.
The easy targets of every government while devising ways to generate revenue are mainly fuel consumers and those addicted to ‘sin goods’ like alcohol and tobacco products. People belonging to the latter category, unable to dump their habits, take the increased tax in their stride. Neither are the automobile users any different. Governments know that once you start riding an automobile, you are not going to revert to bicycles or the good old feet for travelling.
Since the price rise is going to be there, it is better to come to terms with the situation and bear it with a smile.
(The author is a retired professor of English. A regular contributor to The Kashmir Vision, his articles and short stories has appeared in various national and international publications)
