Question : INCREASE IN PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

(a) whether prices of essential commodities, life saving drugs and other commodities have been continuously increasing to the disadvantage of the common man ;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the comparative retail prices in the market of rice, wheat, atta, sugar, pulses, edible oils, milk, life saving drugs, books, stationary etc.as on March 31,1997, March 31,1998, March 31,1999, March 31,2000.

(d) Whether the Government have taken measures to check price rise and also bring them at affordable level for the common man; and

(e) If so, the details thereof ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI BALA SAHEB VIKHE PATIL)

(a) & (b) Wholesale prices of 30 essential commodities whose prices are monitored on a weekly basis rose by 4.7% in 1999-2000. During the first three weeks of the current fiscal year their prices have risen by about 4% largely reflecting seasonal uptrend. Drugs and medicines that have a weight of 2.53 in the new Wholesale Price Index with base 1993-94 did not show any change in the first three weeks of the current fiscal year. The Government through the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs and corrective action is taken as and when their prices rise unduly.

(c) Retail Prices of Selected Essential Commodities in Delhi(end March) (Rs./kg)

Items	1997 1998 1999 2000
Rice	12.00 10.00 11.00 13.00
Wheat 8.50 7.50 8.00 8.00
Sugar	15.00 6.00 16.00 17.00
Gram Dal	17.00 23.00 18.00 20.00
Arhar Dal	23.00 25.00 29.00 29.00
Groundnu Oil	53.00 46.00 77.00 69.00
Mustard oil	39.00 40.00 61.00 44.00
Milk	13.00 14.00 16.00 16.00
Atta	9.00 9.00 9.50 9.00
Life Saving Drugs +	- - - -