Our Daily Budget Monsoon brings a trial of problems for evacuees
This is probably the most unwanted monsoon ever experienced by the people of Bengal. Not so hard, may be for the people fighting in Bangladesh but for us on this side where the number of evacuees keep on increasing, cholera takes a huge toll and keeps spreading, where conjunctivitis is a real menace, the monsoon must be said to have come a little too early. For a largish piece of tarpaulin, you have to spend at least Rs. 75.00 in order to make a small shed over your head during the monsoon. One may live under the trees for the better part of the year. But when it starts raining for days, one does need a shed over the head, even if one is one of those few crores who have no permanent homes. It is hard to imagine the plight of the evacuees who are now still to be sheltered, with the number of such shelterless people increasing sharply.
Even for those who have something to fall back upon, life is not strown with rose points. Since last week, baar prices have shown signs of restlessness. Potatoes sell at 80p and onions at 60p (both prices have increased). Ginger has become extremely expensive: Rs. 5.00 a kg. while garlic sells at Rs. 3.00. The price of fish remains high, more as marriage ceremonies take place every other day.
With the monsoon comes the worry for rainwear, Umbrella prices have increased along with the prices of other things. There are not many who can buy raincoats. The most popular things bought during the monsoon are rain, shoe. We now have winter and summer.
The most popular among such footwear, which young men of the middle classes like to wear, are the velvet cord Goffer types sold at Rs. 20.95. Canvas Gophers are cheaper. selling at Rs. 17.95 a pair. Of the less expensive rubber-soled shoes a lined variety cost Rs. 16.95 the ones without lining cost Rs. 13.00 to Rs. 14.00. The runner types cost Rs. 11.00 to Rs. 13.00 Children’s shoes, beginning from the printed fancy canvas types to the plastic ones, sell very cheap. The tiny tot types done on canvas and rubber sell at Rs.4.00 to Rs. 5.00 whereas the plastic one sell at Rs. 11.00 to Rs. 12.00 Women’s sandals on this type of synthetic rubber sell at Rs. 7.00 Rs. 8.00, Rs. 9.00 and sometimes at Rs. 10.00. The Motia and papia types sell at Rs. 10.00 to Rs. 11.00. You get some very cheap rubber shoes and Hawaiian sandals selling in pavement stalls. Little Hawaii sandals sell at 1.00 a pair while bigger sizes claim Rs. 2.00-2.50 a pair. Imitation rubber sandal shoes go for Rs. 5.00 to Rs. 8.00 a pair.
While looking through the shop windows and at the stalls, one wonders how many shoes will be sold this monsoon, considering flat the price of rice has reached Rs. 2.50j a kg. – GEE BEE.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 10.09.1971