Sugar price has climbed a 29 year high and it's not just the price, the commodity is getting scarce.
It's Bihu, the biggest festival of the year in Assam but the rising sugar prices and vanishing stocks have taken the cheer out both for sweetmaker Kalita and his customers.
"Last year I purchased sugar at Rs 22 per kilogram and sold sweet packets for Rs 15. Now sugar prices have risen to Rs 50 per kilogram and shops are running out of stock .My employees are sitting without work," said Kalita.
Sugar comes to the north east from states like faraway Maharashtra mainly by train. Now the railways has put a limit on the number of rakes every week to north eastern states. Their excuse, bad weather in the north leading to congestion. The region needs at least 8 rakes of sugar a month. It is not even getting 2.
From the roadside tea corner to the first cup of tea in the morning, it is the sugar which is the essential commodity required by all, but the commodity is soon getting out of reach.
It's Bihu, the biggest festival of the year in Assam but the rising sugar prices and vanishing stocks have taken the cheer out both for sweetmaker Kalita and his customers.
"Last year I purchased sugar at Rs 22 per kilogram and sold sweet packets for Rs 15. Now sugar prices have risen to Rs 50 per kilogram and shops are running out of stock .My employees are sitting without work," said Kalita.
Sugar comes to the north east from states like faraway Maharashtra mainly by train. Now the railways has put a limit on the number of rakes every week to north eastern states. Their excuse, bad weather in the north leading to congestion. The region needs at least 8 rakes of sugar a month. It is not even getting 2.
From the roadside tea corner to the first cup of tea in the morning, it is the sugar which is the essential commodity required by all, but the commodity is soon getting out of reach.
