On last Friday, there was a rumour about vanishing of salt or its non-avaiability in the market but this created a scarcity for some time. It is said that we are living in a world of information. No doubt, there should be less chances of spreading of rumours as the people can be made aware about the authenticity of the news so quickly on the social media which has been given the wings by the communication facilities.
The salt shortage news perhaps started from Lucknow and people started moving to the shops to collect salt as if there is nothing important than this. I know one person, aged 70 years who has not consumed sale for the last 50 years. He is of the view that required salt quantity is available in every product we consume.
Media is so active now that it repeats the news throughout the day to establish that the thing has actually happen. It may a troublesome situation for the government as such news creates panicky and sometimes out of control.
The other materials can be substituted but the salt has no substitute and the rumour about its shortage took the turn like terrorism and the people started purchasing salt without any need even in good quantity. In Lucknow the police has to come forward to announce on loudspeakers not to give importance to rumours as there is no such shortage of salt neither in the market nor in the natural resources.
Even then the markets in the Delhi, MP and Gujrat were seen full of rumours and the people were anxious to go in for purchase of salt in bulk quantity and ultimately, the Central Minister has to give statement to this effect.
It is very difficult to say as to whether there was any political move or conspiracy behind this rumour.
Now the scarcity of 100 rupee denomination notes is going on in the country and the problem is this that the small shopkeepers don’t have money to return to the customer who present Rs.2000 note and in such a situation he has no option except to go in for purchase of items which are not even required immediately. But the news of scarcity of salt was followed by sugar also and it exposes the attitude of our society.
In such a critical situation, our government must learn a less that the government did take the step to ban the higher denomination notes without any making any proper arrangements for new currency in hand as per demand of the situation. The government is monitoring the situation on day to day basis and taking steps to enhance the withdrawal of cash slowly, making toll-free highways, accepting of old currency notes at all government institutions etc.
Since there had been problem at certain hospitals for getting treatment and at the time of discharge, it would have been better if all private hospitals, chemists too have been directed to accept the old currency notes against proper bill for getting replaced with new notes.
At the same time, it would have been better if the new currency of only Rs.500 have been introduced in the market to avoid any problem of change.
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HARISH MONGA, Feature Writer
harishmongadido@gmail.com
Phone No. : 9815087107
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