Concern in Lok Sabha over shooting price of onions

NEW DELHI: Concern over shooting prices of onions and other vegetables found its echo in the Lok Sabha today with the government being accused of failing to take remedial steps.

CPI(M) member P Karunakaran raised the issue during Zero Hour drawing attention of the House to the situation caused by "uncontrolled" rise in prices of onions and other vegetables, most of which were being sold in the market "at the rate of Rs 80-90 per kg".

"Government has not only completely failed to control the prices of all essential commodities, but it has taken several steps which have led to tremendous rise in prices," he said.

"The price of petrol has been increased 27 times in the recent past and that of diesel too, which have a direct bearing on the prices of essential commodities," he said.

He demanded that the government urgently come out with steps to check the rise in prices and a special discussion in the House on the matter.

A review of the working of the mid-day meal scheme following the death of 23 children in Bihar was raised by Uday Singh (BJP), who pointed towards the "glaring loopholes" in its implementation like "teachers being used to prepare food for the children instead of teaching."

"The implementation of this ambitious scheme has totally failed even as we are discussing Food Security Bill. If we can't ensure proper implementation of the mid-day meal scheme, how can we ensure food security to the poor?" he asked.