Bhubaneswar, Nov 15: Despite continued supports from the Union Government, essential commodities like onion, edible oil and wheat flour are being sold at unbearable prices in Odisha. Skyrocketing of prices due to 'unsupportive' attitude of the Naveeen Patnaik government has made people to suffer a lot. 

To provide essential commodities to people at affordable prices across the country, the Narendra Modi government has  introduced schemes to keep prices of 22 such products under control. 

While onion is being sold at Rs 60 above in Odisha, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd ( NAFED) is selling it at Rs 25. The Union Government has recently announced to provide Atta to people at subsidised Rs 27.50. 

Now a question rises as to what the Odisha government is doing for the people despite being in power for the last 23 years? 

The Odisha government created Price Utilization fund in 2014-15 to control prices of the essential commodities. Like other schemes, this has also been pushed to the cold store, opine many. 

According to the data provided to Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Ashwini Choubey,  recently, the Union Governemnt has provided Rs 27,489 crore to Price Stabilisation fund in last eight years. The fund is meant to keep prices of 22 essential commodities under control. 

Besides, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is providing funds to States under its PSF fund to control prices of essential commodities. Odisha has got Rs 75 crore from this fund. 

In the last budget, the Odisha government had allocated Rs 100 crore to the Price Stabilisation fund. 

Despite all supports from the Union Government since last 9 years, prices of essential commodities in Odisha remains high and consumers are feeling its pinch.

The union govt had been providing support to keep the essential comodities prices under control, but the ruling BJD Govt has failed to maintain prices. It is always busy in blame game. 

Also Read: Odisha News