GUWAHATI, Feb 6 � Several hundred senior citizens, including representatives from women organisations, student bodies and social organisations, took part in a four-hour fast at the Lakhidhar Bora Kshetra from 9 a m today in protest against the unrestrained and abnormal increase in the prices of foodstuff and other essential commodities.
The protesters made the demonstration at the initiative of the Guwahati Senior Citizens� Association (GSCA).
The GSCA later submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro). It highlighted the basic causes responsible for the abnormal increase in prices, particularly pulses, sugar, onion and LPG (cooking gas) cylinders.
The memorandum, signed by veteran journalist DN Chakravorty and former Vice- Chancellor, Dibrugarh University, Kamaleswar Bora, urged the State Government to declare immediately a State food policy, to streamline the public distribution system (PDS), proper monitoring of arrival and distribution of major food commodities and complete abolition of the so- called goonda tax � which is largely responsible for the increase in the prices of several commodities coming from outside the State.
The memorandum also suggested the setting up of some suitable machinery in the Chief Minister�s Secretariat to constantly supervise activities of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies and also to ensure that food commodities meant for distribution under the PDS by no means find their way into the unscrupulous private dealers.
Several distinguished persons like Prof Deven Dutta, senior advocate Satyendra Nath Deka, Prof Mahesh Bhuyan, Khanindra Chandra Das and Jayashri Goswami participated in the fast besides members of the GSCA. Members from Kasturba Ashram and All Assam Students� Union (AASU) also took part in the protest.
GUWAHATI, Feb 6 � Several hundred senior citizens, including representatives from women organisations, student bodies and social organisations, took part in a four-hour fast at the Lakhidhar Bora Kshetra from 9 a m today in protest against the unrestrained and abnormal increase in the prices of foodstuff and other essential commodities.
The protesters made the demonstration at the initiative of the Guwahati Senior Citizens� Association (GSCA).
The GSCA later submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro). It highlighted the basic causes responsible for the abnormal increase in prices, particularly pulses, sugar, onion and LPG (cooking gas) cylinders.
The memorandum, signed by veteran journalist DN Chakravorty and former Vice- Chancellor, Dibrugarh University, Kamaleswar Bora, urged the State Government to declare immediately a State food policy, to streamline the public distribution system (PDS), proper monitoring of arrival and distribution of major food commodities and complete abolition of the so- called goonda tax � which is largely responsible for the increase in the prices of several commodities coming from outside the State.
The memorandum also suggested the setting up of some suitable machinery in the Chief Minister�s Secretariat to constantly supervise activities of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies and also to ensure that food commodities meant for distribution under the PDS by no means find their way into the unscrupulous private dealers.
Several distinguished persons like Prof Deven Dutta, senior advocate Satyendra Nath Deka, Prof Mahesh Bhuyan, Khanindra Chandra Das and Jayashri Goswami participated in the fast besides members of the GSCA. Members from Kasturba Ashram and All Assam Students� Union (AASU) also took part in the protest.
