Joys of our Paradise Isle a ‘limited privilege’

3 February 2014 08:24 pm Views - 1437

The recent price hike in powdered milk is certainly going to adversely affect most people in this paradise isle of ours. Sadly it appears that paradise joys are available only to a small percentage of the population to whom the increase in powdered milk or any other food item, be it imported salmon or even in certain instances caviar means nothing since it does not create even a minute dent in their purses.

"As we celebrate the 66th anniversary of our Independence, the older generation will remember or have heard the words of D.S. Senanayake when he addressed the nation as we received independence, stating that all governance should be for the welfare of the people"

But for the fixed wage worker, the daily paid labourer, the working couple with young children, the increase in price is just another calamity heaped on their already-burdened lives. Was this huge price increase necessary and if so why? One wonders if world prices   impacted the prices so adversely or is it just because the rupee’s purchasing power is further diminishing in the world market. Or is the government as usual taxing the consumer so as to obtain funds for its paradise way of life?

The Mahinda Chinthanaya was welcomed by the people for its strategies; certainly not to have a jumbo Cabinet with ministers, deputies and subject ministers who are all enjoying not only the salary of Parliamentarians but also additional perks such as various allowances  and the whole gamut of privileges including the ability to purchase luxurious cars to spend more time in Colombo-- the newly-beautified capital-- rather than walk the roads and byways of their constituencies to see for themselves how the people who voted for them live.

Many people believed that the Mahinda Chinthanaya was the gospel that would bring change and sustainable development to their lives. They included pensioners, farmers, fishermen and a broad spectrum of gullible voters.
Today they are left wondering what on earth they will do when their little child needs at least a cup of milk! Sure enough the World Bank is not keen on supporting the dietary needs of the marginalised; nor are the countries that grant Sri Lanka the so-called development loans.

Recently in reply to a question asked in Parliament the International Monetary Cooperation and Deputy Finance Minister said that the per capita debt had passed Rs 300,000. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country at present is US$ 60 billion. As the population of the country is over 20 million, the per capita income has been calculated as nearly US$ 3000. According to this calculation, a family of four should get an income of US$ 1000 (Rs.1,37,000) but surely the Central Bank and the authorities know very well that only a minute fraction of the population get that amount.

Much to the dismay of the ordinary citizens, the Minister responded to a query by stating that the per capita debt was Rs 321,472. “Of this, the average national debt shouldered by each Sri Lankan was Rs 179,341 while the rest was external debt per capita,”he said.
Given such an insight to the financial situation in the country it is obvious that essential items have an inbuilt and escalating indirect tax system with greater impact on food, medicine and consumer goods, the government carrying the burden of maintaining a jumbo Cabinet has little to offer the people by way of any welfare measures. Today pre-schools and primary schools do not receive the benefit of a meal.

Samaposha which was given by the midwives to mothers at the monthly clinics held in every village, to provide the nutritional requirements of their infants and toddlers is no longer provided. Secondary schools do not receive their midday meal.
And parents, especially those who are working as daily paid employees are searching for jobs abroad out of economic frustration.

"Many people believed that the Mahinda Chinthanaya was the gospel that would bring change and sustainable development to their lives. They included pensioners, farmers, fishermen and a broad spectrum of gullible voters."

Ministers and Parliamentarians appear totally unaware of the reality that exists in the lives of the marginalised. Almost all welfare measures have been scrapped. As we celebrate the 66th anniversary of our Independence, the older generation will remember or have heard the words of D.S. Senanayake when he addressed the nation as we received independence, stating that all governance should be for the welfare of the people

The government promised that the peace gained after a 30-year war would bring the people a happier future. However, it has turned out that the prosperity and progress have been limited to ministers, MPs, their families and their close-knitted networks.
The masses have been forgotten and are being deceived continuously that better days would come for them.
Some of the voters who trusted the Mahinda Chinthanaya are still hoping that it would become a reality one day. Others have lost hope and are frustrated.