Hey Friends, I am back with another social and political issue relating to Prices of Petrol / Diesel. This is one of the thoughts which mysteriously drill my mind deep on hearing about rates of Petrol / Diesel being increased or decreased.
From political point of view, Private Key Players such as Reliance, Essar Oil in the Oil Sector proposed to the Government regarding decontrolling of prices of Petrol & Diesel resulting into further hike in rate of Petrol by Rs. 4.72/- per litre and in the rate of Diesel by Rs. 1.51/- per litre or to provide Subsidy to Private Players also. Even, the committee formed under the Leadership of Parekh, and other two committees formed under the leadership of well-known political personalities recommended decontrolling of prices of Petrol / Diesel.
Generally, everybody is of the view that the government is emptying the pocket of the peoples of the nation. But, I have a question for all of you, who use petrol / diesel in one or other way in their daily routine. And the question is;
Does variation of petrol / diesel rates by the government affects the mind of the people?
Yes, you are correct that the variation in Petrol / Diesel Rates does affect the people but my question is, Does it affects the mind of the people. For my point of view, it does not affect the mind of the peoples, whether the rates are increased or decreased. The common people, i.e., Middle Class & Low Class people, generally uses public transport and High class people will not be considering any variations for their use. I know what I am trying to prove is not fully correct. But this is where I am taken aback seeing cars running down the road where only one or maximum two persons are sitting, whether there is oscillation in rate or not of the Petrol / Diesel rates.
I am also of the view that it does affect all the class of people. It really affects each and every person but the problem lies in the thinking pattern of most of the people. Most of us, when we hear of increase in price, our first reaction will be, “Oh my God, where will it stop?” But in less than a week time, we will forget the variation and will start out normal life. As usual, I would like to quote a real life example which I encounter each and every day of my life of useless consumption of such a valuable resource;
When the prices of the Petrol were increased to Rs. 45/- (approximately) from Rs. 42/-, there was great agitation. During that time, I was at my native place, Morbi, preparing for my C.A. Final exam. By and large in the evening, youth of the town used to roam around on the bike / car. They used to roam around with their friends, sometimes follow girls to impress them. Even I was not the exception, but the problem with me was, I had no bike. But I used to consider it as my good luck. In the evening, I used to go for a walk; taking little bit time out from the studies. As far as roaming around is concerned, there was no slowing down. It remained same as it was before. Even right now, when the price of Petrol is even higher, the situation remains the same. I can pen down the above mentioned facts confidently because it’s a small town and almost everybody know each other.
Another instance which I encounter daily is of cars travelling on the road. Few days back I was going back to my hostel after completing my office work. I was about reach my hostel but before that I had to cross one signal. When I reached at that particular signal, it signaled red. During that time, I was surprised to check that there were 21 cars waiting for crossing the signal out of which, in 12 cars, there was only one man in the car, i.e., driver, nobody else. And in other 7 cars, there were only two persons travelling to their destination. Just analyze how much petrol / diesel is been wasted. They could have used public transport.
Also, another Global instance of Petrol / Diesel ill-consumption is of Formula-One Race. The new season of Formula One is about to kick off. Every year, more than 10 races are held in different parts of the world, where manufacturers of the Cars try to prove their supremacy over other from speed point of view. The fuel used in such cars is not the usual one which we use in our day to day life, but it is the fuel which is used in Air plane. This fuel is highly expensive. I lose my mind thinking that the car manufacturers of the world, just in order to prove their machine is faster than others; destroy so much of natural resources. It is not at all required. Remember, I am just talking about useless consumption of this resource and not of any environmental hazards such as pollution. Some of the high ranked personalities are going crazy on bringing Formula-One into India, but is it necessary. Will it help us out except from economic point of view? If your answer is affirmative, I will be the first person to support you. These are the certain real-life instances which I bumped into everyday, from which I am of the conclusion that it doesn’t affect the thinking pattern of the people, whether it is youth or any professional or any industries. And those who are affected have already started to travel in the public transport. Similarly, you may also come across so many such instances in your day to day life.
Hence, I would not at all blame government for increasing the price of the Petrol / Diesel. Even the government provides subsidy to the public sector companies before hiking the prices of the said resource so as to provide the valuable resources at a low rate. Sometimes, when I see some freaks emptying tanks just for their fun, I feel that the government should not even give Subsidy on it.
So, I request you to please save one of the natural resources of the country as well as world, and use it tactfully and skillfully.
Cheers,
Niraj M. Pandit
