All-round criticism for across-the-board hike


By R. K. Radhakrishnan (The Hindu)

CHENNAI, NOV. 29. More political parties and organisations today jumped on the Opposition bandwagon, criticising the across-the- board hike in the rates announced by the State Government yesterday for services and consumables.

The CPI (M) State executive, which met here today, decided to launch State-wide agitations and demonstrations to press for a rollback of the hikes. The AIADMK ``stabbed in the back people who voted it,'' the executive said.

The DPI leader, Mr.R.Thirumavalavan, who demanded convening of the Assembly, said the decision to effect the hike should be discussed in the House before being implemented.

The MGR-ADMK general secretary, Mr. S. Thirunavakkarasu, said the steep rise did not take into consideration the purchasing power of the people. The rise could have been avoided had the Government resorted to cost-cutting, taken up structural readjustment and ensured transparency in tender applications.

The CPI (M-L) said the AIADMK Government, which came to power after giving the people ``boundless promises,'' did them immense harm. All progressive, democratic and human rights forces should join together to fight the government move, a party statement said.

The Tamil Maanila Muslim League, however, said the hike could not be averted. The Government had taken the appropriate decision at the right time.

Condemning the hike, the CITU State unit said it would hold demonstrations all over Tamil Nadu to force the Government to rethink. It requested other trade unions to join the stir.

The INTUC said the ``retrograde step'' came at a time the common man was struggling to make both ends meet. ``In the present scenario, the recent policy to deny bonus and advance to the working people will have severe implications''.

The All-India Democratic Women's Association described the hike as an ``assault on the already low living standards of the overwhelming majority of the people.'' The decisions ``constitute a breach of the enormous trust the poor women reposed in the AIADMK during the Assembly election.''

`Lower power tariff hike'

The Confederation of Indian Industry, while appreciating the measures taken by the Government, said the hike was announced at a time industry was going through a recessionary phase. ``While the increase is stated to be unavoidable, perhaps, the Government could have used the occasion to moderate the hike in power tariffs and attempt, at the same time, a significant cost reduction through improvement in process efficiencies of the TNEB.'' It requested the Government to consider ways of reducing the tariff ``to the extent of 30 to 50 per cent in the next three-five years.''

The Ambattur Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association said the power hike came at a time the ``small scale industries were already reeling under recession.'' Its president, Mr. L. Leela Krishna said the State Regulatory Commission had not become functional and it should be given the authority to increase tariff.

The Chennai Plastics Manufacturers and Merchants Association president, Mr. G. Sankaran, requested the Government to withdraw the ``unfortunate blanket hike in tariff.''

The Madras Pharmaceutical Wholesalers' Association said the introduction of a consultation fee and a visitors fee in government hospitals would be a ``big blow'' to patients and visitors.

The revision of State taxes came at a time taxi and cab operators were already reeling under a Union Government surcharge, the Chennai Tourist Taxi Owners Association said. Its president, Mr. L. Narayanan said only those operating with authorised licences were subjected to the levies. Unlicensed operators should be brought to book.

The Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Association president, Mr. K. A. Senguttuvel, said though the Government had empowered the milk cooperatives to raise the price, they were all now under Special Officers, who would act only under government instructions.

Various organisations of government staff, including teachers, have decried the austerity measures and said the moves would only affect those at the bottom, while there would be no change at the top. One association pointed out that most of the concessions were ``hard-earned'' over decades, and now, the Government sought to take them away at one stroke.

The president of the Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, Mr. N. Tarachand Dugar, said the steep hike in bus fare would affect the poor and the middle class and have a spiralling effect on inflation. The Government should have taxed affluent farmers, he said even while welcoming partial privatisation of the bus transport system.