It’s no double whammy, but a multi one leaving gaping holes in household budgets. It’s been only a fortnight and prices of most essential commodities have hit the roof in Kerala. With it came the curbs on use of LPG cylinders that run most kitchens in homes.

Shocking power bills, a diesel price hike and an imminent bus fare hike will surely see the common man reeling under a burden he can hardly carry. And all these have flooded in within a very short span.

The worst to be hit have been housewives who now cry saying it’s no longer easy to manage a house. “The ‘shocking’ electricity bill forces us to run around switching off most lights and fans. A fear of running out of gas cylinders lurks around, worrying us a lot. Besides the tension of work, there is little solace at home as we are finding it really difficult to run things”, says Shobha Kunjan, a beautician in Kochi, reacting to the soaring prices.

Lifestyles have changed. One cannot use firewood in city houses. Worse still, even if some of the cooking can be shifted to kerosene stoves, fuel is not available, say housewives.

With working couples becoming the usual norm in the state, household budgets are well-planned. But with the price of rice, vegetables, meat, milk and cereals going up by nearly 25 per cent, budget plans have gone haywire, they say.

To add to their woes have been the curbs on the use of subsidized LPG cylinders. The annual quota fixed for every consumer is six cylinders. Those who exhaust the subsidy quota can get cylinders from the gas agencies at Rs 789 a cylinder. On an average, a cylinder lasts for a month in most homes. This will mean that annually the extra expenditure on cylinders alone will be more than Rs 5,000. And now with lack of clarity on the subsidy issue, dealers are refusing to supply cylinders.

A gas tanker blast made the situation worse as the waiting time for refilled cylinders has gone up to more than 60 days.

According to industry sources, the penetration of LPG cylinders within households in the state is around 90 per cent. With curbs on the use of LPG cylinders, induction stoves have made their entry into the kitchen and using it for an hour will mean an additional unit of electricity.

“Where can I cut expenses? One can’t live without food. We can’t give up on milk. I have been considering changing food habits at home. Chappatis have started becoming a rare item at home and instead iddlis have taken that place. And quickies like uppumav,” she adds.

“A judicious energy usage can only save us from hefty electricity bills. I ensure that television, computer and other electronic devices are not left in standby mode and the unwanted lights and fans are not on”, says Dr P.R. Shamin of the Peruvannamuzhi health service in Kozhikode.

The price rise of diesel has fuelled a hike in the price of essential commodities by 10-20 per cent. Since Kerala grows little, most of the produce is transported in lorries from neighbouring states.

Vidhya Prem, a housewife in Kozhikode, says: “Preparing a grocery list before leaving for the store and sticking to it is one of the best ways to save money on food items. Purchasing should be limited to once in two weeks.”

A leading industrialist says there is nothing wrong in removing subsidies for those who can afford it. “Subsidies are for the needy. Several houses have more than one gas connection and are enjoying subsidies that are denied to the deserving”, he says.

How to be prudent

* Look at alternative fuels like bio-gas

* Cook only what is needed

* Go for fuel-saving cooking methods

* Try dishes that need very little cooking

* Look at Western style where food is cooked in bulk and taken out for daily use in limited quantity

* Ensure that electronic equipment like computers, TVs are not left on standby mode

* Switch off lights and fans immediately after use

* Prefer a public transport whenever possible