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 As if the increase in prices of petrol, gold, rice, etc. is not enough, cigarette prices have also increased, laments the Chennai smoker, puffing furiously at a stick, smoke billowing from his ears! Gold Flake costs Rs 2 per stick against Rs 1.75, while Wills costs Rs 2.75 against Rs 2.30 wail the addicts. There is no way one can live in Tamil Nadu, they sob.
Though this is the general scene, there is this shop keeper, by name Rashid, who says there is no necessity for hiking the cigarette prices. Rashid who has his shop in BN Road,
T.Nagar, has a "Fair Price Cigarette Shop" board in front. He has listed the price of each brand, too.
 A fair price cigarette shop? Curiosity aroused by the board, we approach Rashid to find out more. "It is true that prices are higher in other shops, but I'm selling at the old price which is the correct price, since I get my stocks delivered to me by the company. It is just that the others are exploiting the situation. In general, the consumers don't bother about a mere 25 paise and hence these fellas get away with it," he says. "I want to create an awareness among the smoking public (!) that's why the board," says Rashid. "My customers appreciate this. I don't care what the other shopkeepers think".
From fair price shops to sell rice, to fair price shops to sell booze and now a fair price shop to sell cigarettes. We have come a long way indeed!
 We meet some smokers to know more of what is going on. Says Majid a call-taxi driver, "You ask the shopkeeper the reason for the hike and pat comes the reply that the hike is from the wholesale distributors and they advise you to check with the wholesale distributors! Who has the time and energy to argue with these blokes for a mere 25 paise?" .
"If the price of any other commodity is hiked, we rightfully ask the merchant for the reason, whereas in this case, we feel shy, may be guilty even. The shopkeeper also doesn't make any effort to persuade (smug in the knowledge, the addict has nowhere to go?!). We can't crib to others and expect any sympathy! We have to live with this; we rationalise that it is only 25 paise and take a deep drag," says Shankar.
 "The manufacturer and the wholesalers are responsible for this hike. One cannot blame the shopkeepers alone. Though everyone knows about this nothing is being done. The government should take action. Imagine the kind of extra money that can be made everyday. It is not as if the government. is not aware of this. The government aids and abets the situation. The stick is dearer by even 50 paise and in cinema halls each stick costs Rs
3."
 Sale and consumption of pan parag and gutka is supposed to be banned. What has happened to the ban? Both are available all over the place. What was being sold for Rs 2 before the "ban", is today priced Rs 3! The government. is turning a blind eye to all this. Why not enforce the ban? The ban is a blessing for those hawking pan parag and gutka. "They are making more money," says Suresh, another consumer, in an angry tone mixed with a tinge of sadness.
The government should not dismiss this
cigarette issue as trivial, but act to prevent unauthorised middlemen making money at the expense of the consumer is the unanimous wish of all concerned. Let us hope this wish doesn't go up in smoke!
Saravanan
Tr. by Ellar
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